Afrocover
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics & Policies
  • Africa-Wide
  • Opinions
  • Exclusive
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Afrocover
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics & Policies
  • Africa-Wide
  • Opinions
  • Exclusive
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Afrocover
No Result
View All Result

Court dismisses suit seeking to halt EFCC’s probe of businessman over alleged fraud

By Rasheed Aladejana

February 24, 2025
in News
0
Breaking: EFCC returns over $120,000 and N70M to foreign fraud victims
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Whatsapp

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed to compel the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating allegations of fraud and economic crimes against businessman Abubakar Ismail Isa.

Justice Emeka Nwite, who delivered the judgment on Monday, February 24, 2025, ruled that the case lacked merit and substance. The businessman had approached the court with a fundamental rights enforcement suit, contending that the EFCC’s investigation into his business dealings was unlawful, biased, and influenced by his business rivals.

In his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2024, Isa alleged that the anti-graft agency was acting maliciously by probing him without disclosing the nature of his alleged offence or providing any petition against him.

He further sought an order of mandamus to compel the AGF to direct the EFCC to halt the investigation and assign the matter to another federal security agency.

“Isa subsequently asked Justice Nwite to issue an order of mandamus against the AGF to order EFCC to drop the investigation and direct any other security agency of the federal government to take over the investigation, the statement”, said.

However, Justice Nwite dismissed the application, stating that the AGF’s powers under Section 174(3) of the 1999 Constitution do not extend to directing or nominating agencies to carry out investigations into economic crimes. He emphasized that the EFCC, under Section 43 of the EFCC Act 2004, has the statutory authority to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in economic and financial crimes without seeking consent or advice from any ministry or government department.

“The EFCC is not under any obligation to heed directives from any ministry regarding its investigative functions,” Justice Nwite stated, adding that the anti-graft agency’s powers are clear and unambiguous under the law.

The statement partly read: “Justice Nwite said that under Section 43 of EFCC Act 2004, the anti-graft agency was not under any obligation to take advice from any ministry or agency to drop its statutory powers to initiate investigation into any alleged economic crimes”.

“The businessman had in his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2024 sued the AGF and EFCC complaining of unlawful investigation into some business transactions involving him and others”.

“He alleged that EFCC was biased and mischievous in the ways and manners he was being investigated”.

“Specifically, he alleged that EFCC was acting the script of his business adversaries to cause investigation against him without telling him the nature of his offence or show any petition against him”.

“Isa subsequently asked Justice Nwite to issue an order of mandamus against the AGF to order EFCC to drop the investigation and direct any other security agency of the federal government to take over the investigation”.

“However, in his judgment, Justice Nwite held that Section 174 (3) of the 1999 Constitution upon which the case was predicated did not confer any power on the AGF to nominate any agency to conduct investigation into economic crimes or financial breaches”.

“The judge held that in the exercise of its statutory duties, the EFCC was not under any obligation to obey directives from any ministry of government department”.

“Justice Nwite said that Section 43 of the EFCC Act 2004, has no ambiguity to the fact that the anti-graft agency shall have powers to initiate investigation into alleged economic crimes and initiate prosecution of those indicted in the process”.

“He subsequently dismissed the suit for want ofmerit and substance”.

 

Related Posts

Osogbo: Cult clash claims one life
News

Osogbo: Cult clash claims one life

The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the death of one in a violent clash between two rival cult...

by Emmanuel Oluwadola
June 4, 2025
FRSC deploys 36,000 personnel to ensure smooth movement during Eid-el-Kabir
News

FRSC deploys 36,000 personnel to ensure smooth movement during Eid-el-Kabir

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has launched a nationwide patrol operation ahead of the Eid el-Kabir celebrations on...

by Editor
June 4, 2025
Nigeria moves towards military self-reliance – Minister
News

Nigeria moves towards military self-reliance – Minister

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has affirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to reducing Nigeria’s dependence on foreign...

by Rasheed Aladejana
June 4, 2025
Presidency challenges critics to propose alternative policies
Africa-Wide

Presidency challenges critics to propose alternative policies

The Presidency has called on opposition figures and critics of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to offer practical alternatives...

by Editor
June 4, 2025
Next Post
Dangote assures Nigerians of enough petrol for local demands

Dangote assures Nigerians of enough petrol for local demands

Afrocover news

The Afrocover team is a group of media enthusiasts that are committed to illuminate information fairness and objective media coverage across Africa. We also cover the depth of African Politics, History, Culture, Entertainment, and the Economy as the case may be.

© 2025 Afrocover – All right reserved

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Loading
Facebook Twitter
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics & Policies
  • Africa-Wide
  • Opinions
  • Exclusive
  • About Us
    • Contact Us

© 2025 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.