The Enugu State government has withdrawn from the Supreme Court lawsuit challenging the legal status of Nigeria’s EFCC, leaving the case to other states.
The Enugu State Government has officially retracted its participation in a Supreme Court case involving 16 states that questions the legal jurisdiction of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption entities.
This lawsuit, initiated by Kogi State in 2023 and supported by multiple states, challenges the authority of federal agencies such as the EFCC and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to investigate financial issues at the state level without consent from state governments.
On October 21, 2024, Enugu’s Attorney General, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, submitted a formal request for the state’s withdrawal; however, due to administrative delays, this request was not officially acknowledged by the Supreme Court until October 24.
Enugu’s departure follows the recent exits of Ebonyi, Anambra, and Adamawa on October 23, further diminishing the number of states involved in the case.
The Supreme Court is anticipated to announce a date for the judgment, which addresses critical constitutional questions regarding the jurisdiction of federal anti-corruption agencies over state matters.
Peoplesmind
