EFCC: Those Challenging Our Legality Feeling The Heat

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reacted to a suit challenging the constitutionality of the law establishing it.

Daily Trust reports that attorneys-general of 16 states have filed a suit at the Supreme Court, arguing that in enacting the law which created EFCC in 2004, the national assembly failed to adhere to section 12 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The section governs the incorporation of international treaties into domestic law.

They further noted that the EFCC Act cannot be applied to states that did not give their consent to its creation.

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The supreme court has fixed October 22 to hear the case.

In two letters addressed to the constitution review committees of the senate and house of representatives, Olisa Agbakoba, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said EFCC was not constitutionally established.

However, Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, and other civil society organisations faulted the move by the states.

But in an interview with Channels Television on Monday, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC’s director of public affairs, said the agency is “worried and shocked” about the suit in view of the “corruption problem” in the country.

He said those challenging its legality are “feeling the heat” of anti-graft war adding that the country cannot survive without the anti-graft commission

Uwujaren maintained that the establishment of the EFCC followed due process in the national assembly.

He called on Nigerians to reject the move to “derail” the operations of the agency.

He said: “I am worried that with the kind of problem we have with corruption in this country, some people will go to court to challenge the legality of EFCC.

“What you see playing out today is simply people who are feeling the heat of the work of the EFCC, and they simply want to derail what is going on within the EFCC. They see EFCC as a threat”.

Uwujaren urged Nigerians to see through the gimmick of those behind the suit.

“We are really shocked by what is happening. Nigerians should see through this shenanigan and oppose it.

“I don’t see how this country can survive without the EFCC with the kind of corruption problem that we have in this country. Nigeria cannot do without the EFCC”, he added.