The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has dismissed a
request by the Benue State government challenging the powers of anti-graft
agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate alleged
fraud in the state.
The judge, Nnamdi Dimgba, ruled that the EFCC is legally
empowered to investigate alleged fraud in any part of the country, regardless
of the location.
According to the judge, the enabling act, guiding the EFCC
does not limit its powers only to federal government agencies.
Mr Dimgba said the doctrines of neutrality and impartiality
as it relates to the EFCC, makes it mandatory for the commission to treat all
agencies of government equally, especially with regards to the disbursement of
public funds.
“Public institutions like the first defendant must not only
be impartial or neutral, but must be seen to be so.”
He, therefore, threw out the application for lacking in
merit.
The Benue State government had approached the court with a
request that the EFCC be prevented from further investigations into the Benue
State government’s activities.
The applicant’s lawyer, Emeka Etiaba, asked the court to
declare the EFCC’s investigations illegal, on the grounds that the commission
was allegedly overstepping its boundaries.
Mr Etiaba argued that as a federal government establishment,
the EFCC lacked the power to investigate alleged fraud in states.
Mr Etiaba told journalists after the court ruling on Monday
that his client would appeal the court judgment.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/289095-court-strikes-out-benue-govts-application-challenging-efccs-powers.html
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