Falana argued that EFCC and ICPC are common agencies created by law to fight financial crimes and corruption
By Kehinde Okeowo
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has urged the Nigerian judiciary to ignore calls for the scrapping of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
He made the call while featuring on Channels Television’s programme, Sunday Politics.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was reacting to a suit filed by 16 governors challenging the legality of the laws establishing the EFCC.
The suit originally filed by Kogi State was later joined by Ondo, Edo, Oyo, Ogun, Nassarawa, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Enugu, Benue, Anambra, Plateau, Cross River and Niger states.
The 16 states are relying on the fact that the constitution is the supreme law and that any law that is inconsistent with it is null and void.
The Supreme Court has fixed Wednesday, October 22 to hear the suit.
ALSO READ: Security beefed up in Abia, Enugu over purported IPOB Monday, Tuesday sit-at-home order
Addressing the development during the interview on Channels TV, Falana advised the governors of the 16 states to seek measures that will ensure that the EFCC is independent rather than challenge the legality of the agency.
Speaking on the suit, he said. “For me, the ICPC and the EFCC like the Code of Conduct Tribunal, have come to stay. What we should be demanding are measures to make these institutions autonomous, not under the control of any government.”
Falana added, “The Supreme Court has maintained rather repeatedly concerning the EFCC and ICPC; that these are common, they shouldn’t be under the control of the Federal Government.
“They are common agencies to fight economic crimes in our country, to fight financial crimes in our country, to fight corruption in our country.”
