metro

16 govs seeking to stop EFCC operations get Supreme Court date

Published

1 year ago

October 8, 2024

16 govs seeking to stop EFCC operations get Supreme Court date

The Supreme Court has fixed October 22 for the hearing of a suit filed by 16 state governments challenging the legality of the laws establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and two other agencies.

A seven-member panel, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, set the date after the states were joined as co-plaintiffs in the suit originally initiated by the Kogi State Government.

The states involved are Ondo, Edo, Oyo, Ogun, Nassarawa, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Enugu, Benue, Anambra, Plateau, Cross River and Niger.

Their argument is based on the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, asserting that any law inconsistent with the Constitution should be declared null and void.

The plaintiffs referenced a prior Supreme Court judgment in Dr. Joseph Nwobike v. Federal Republic of Nigeria, arguing that the EFCC Act was enacted based on a United Nations Convention against corruption.

They claimed that the EFCC Establishment Act of 2004 did not comply with Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution, which requires the majority approval of state Houses of Assembly for international conventions to be incorporated into Nigerian law.

The argument of the states in their present suit, which they said had been corroborated by the Supreme Court in the previous case mentioned, is that the law, as enacted, could not be applied to states that never approved of it, in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian constitution.

READ ALSO:

Hence, they argued that any institution so formed should be regarded as an illegal institution.

When the case was called on Tuesday, lawyers, who represented the states, made their submissions.

While the majority sought to be joined as co-plaintiffs, two of the states prayed for an order for consolidation of the case.

Kogi AG’s counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, informed the court that there were states that indicated interest in consolidation of the case and those seeking to be joined as co-plaintiffs.

“It is for this honourable court to tell us how to proceed my lord.

“Out of about 15 states, there are about 13 of them that have indicated interest to be co-plaintiffs and only two want consolidation.

“To make the task of the court easier, those who want to be joined as co-plaintiff should be joined and abide by the processes already filed and those who sought consolidation should be asked to file within seven days,” Mohammed said.

After the lawyers’ submissions, Justice Abba-Aji granted their prayers.
She adjourned the matter until Oct. 22 for a hearing.

The Kogi State AG had, in the suit number: SC/CV/178/2023 sued the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as sole defendant.

In the originating summons filed by a team of lawyers led by Prof .Musa Yakubu, SAN, the state raised six questions for determination and sought nine reliefs.

The Kogi government sought a declaration that the federal government through the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) lacked the power to issue any directive, guideline, advisory or any instrument however called for the administration and management of funds belonging to the state.

The government also sought a declaration that the EFCC, the NFIU or any agency of the federal government cannot investigate, requisition documents, invite and or arrest anyone concerning offences arising from or touching on the administration and management of funds belonging to the state.

16 govs seeking to stop EFCC operations get Supreme Court date

Related Topics:EFCC Featured Supreme Court

Up Next

Women storm streets in Benin to protest over guber election results

Don't Miss

21 feared drowned in two Lagos passenger boats collision

metro

EFCC Nabs Three in Borno Over Viral ₦500 Naira Mutilation Video

Published

11 minutes ago

February 13, 2026

Trends Admin

EFCC Nabs Three in Borno Over Viral ₦500 Naira Mutilation Video

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested three suspects in Maiduguri, Borno State, over alleged naira mutilation following a viral social media video showing them misusing the Nigerian currency.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency disclosed that the suspects — Adam Muhammad, Muhammad Muhammad, and Bashir Musa — were apprehended by operatives of the EFCC’s Maiduguri Zonal Directorate.

READ ALSO:

According to the commission, the trio was seen in a widely circulated video cleaning mucus from their noses using ₦500 naira notes, an act described as abuse and defacement of the national currency.

The statement said the suspects were traced and arrested within the Maiduguri metropolis shortly after the video surfaced online and triggered public reactions.

They are currently being held at the EFCC’s Maiduguri detention facility while investigations continue. The commission added that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, abuse, defacement, spraying, or improper handling of the naira constitutes an offence punishable under Nigerian law. The EFCC has in recent months intensified its crackdown on cases involving naira abuse and currency mutilation across the country.

The latest arrest underscores the agency’s renewed enforcement drive aimed at protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s legal tender.

EFCC Nabs Three in Borno Over Viral ₦500 Naira Mutilation Video

metro

Omokri Accuses El-Rufai of Rights Abuses During Kaduna Governorship

Published

2 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai

Omokri Accuses El-Rufai of Rights Abuses During Kaduna Governorship

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has come under renewed public scrutiny following a strongly worded statement by former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, who accused him of multiple human rights violations and abuse of power during his tenure from 2015 to 2023.

In a detailed commentary circulated online, Omokri urged Nigerians not to sympathise with the former governor amid his ongoing political and legal challenges, alleging a pattern of repression and authoritarian conduct while in office.

Allegations of Human Rights Violations

Omokri referenced the 2015 clash between the Nigerian Army and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), led by Ibrahim el-Zakzaky, in Zaria, Kaduna State. The confrontation resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Shiite members, with the official figure put at 347. Other accounts have suggested higher casualty numbers.

He accused el-Rufai’s administration of contributing to what he described as the “barbaric treatment” of Zakzaky and the mass casualties recorded during the incident.

Disappearance of Abubakar Idris

Omokri also revisited the case of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, who was reportedly abducted from his residence in Kaduna on August 2, 2019, shortly before Jumu’ah prayers. Idris has not been seen since his disappearance.

READ ALSO:

The former aide claimed that the activist’s family — his wife and two daughters — continue to live in trauma, alleging that the incident occurred under what he described as an oppressive regime in Kaduna State.

Arrests and Alleged Harassment of Critics

According to Omokri, several journalists and activists were arrested during el-Rufai’s administration for critical reporting. Among those he mentioned were Jacob Onjewu Dickson, Segun Onibiyo, Midat Joseph, and Audu Maikori.

Maikori, a lawyer and activist, reportedly left Nigeria for the United States following his legal battles with the Kaduna State Government at the time.

Demolition of Properties Linked to Political Opponents

The statement further accused el-Rufai of demolishing properties allegedly linked to political adversaries.

Among those cited was Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, whose residence was reportedly demolished in the early hours of the morning during a period of political disagreement within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State.

Omokri also alleged that properties associated with Aisha Mercy Yakubu and Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, a former APC National Vice Chairman (North West), were demolished following disputes with the former governor.

Financial Allegations

In addition to human rights concerns, Omokri pointed to allegations by the Kaduna State House of Assembly accusing el-Rufai of involvement in the alleged mismanagement or diversion of ₦423 billion during his administration. The former governor has not been convicted of any wrongdoing, and the matter remains within the realm of political and legal processes.

Political Tensions

The commentary also criticised el-Rufai for recently accusing the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, of being responsible for his current political predicament. Omokri dismissed the claim, stating that legal scrutiny should not be equated with persecution.

As of press time, el-Rufai has not publicly responded to the latest remarks.

The renewed accusations have sparked debate across political and civil society circles, with supporters and critics sharply divided over the former governor’s legacy in Kaduna State.

Omokri Accuses El-Rufai of Rights Abuses During Kaduna Governorship

metro

First Daughter of Murtala Muhammed Reflects on Life Without Father, Preserving His Legacy

Published

8 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Trends Admin

Aisha Muhammed Oyebode and late General Murtala Ramat Muhammed

First Daughter of Murtala Muhammed Reflects on Life Without Father, Preserving His Legacy

Aisha Muhammed Oyebode, the first daughter of late General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, has opened up about the challenges of growing up without her father, the late military head of state assassinated on February 13, 1976, and her ongoing work in philanthropy, governance, and education.

In an exclusive interview, Aisha, who is a lawyer, entrepreneur, author, activist, and philanthropist, described losing her father at age 12 as a profoundly harrowing experience. She recalled the “silence of absence” and the “noise of expectation” that followed his death, explaining that she had to grow up quickly while navigating the pressures of public scrutiny and preserving her father’s legacy.

“My father treated corruption as an emergency, not a talking point. He believed in strong leadership, discipline, clarity of purpose, and a deep commitment to Nigeria,” she said.

READ ALSO:

Aisha also highlighted the stabilizing role of her mother, Ajoke Muhammed, who raised six children after the assassination, instilling discipline, resilience, and a focus on education.

Currently, Aisha is the Group CEO of Asset Management Group Limited and the CEO of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), where she champions girls’ education and youth empowerment. She noted that, particularly in northern Nigeria, female primary net attendance rates are as low as 47.3–47.7%, with young women’s illiteracy reaching 70.8%.

“From our experience, the solution to girls’ education must be holistic — removing economic barriers, ensuring safety, fostering community ownership, and making education relevant to livelihoods,” she said.

She emphasized that educating girls stabilizes families and strengthens the nation, adding that the MMF Foundation has been instrumental in providing scholarships, school feeding programs, and community initiatives to enhance female education.

Reflecting on her father’s legacy, Aisha described him as a man of humility, vision, and principle, whose simple resting place in Kano reflects a life devoted to duty rather than display. She and her siblings have committed to refurbishing his grave and that of their brother Zack while carrying forward his vision through their work.

“A grave does not hold a legacy — people do. The real monument to his memory is in how we choose to live, and the kind of Nigeria we are willing to build,” she said.

Aisha’s reflections combine personal remembrance, national history, and advocacy, highlighting the enduring influence of Murtala Muhammed on his family and the nation, while underscoring the importance of education, integrity, and principled leadership in Nigeria today.