Sixteen state governors heavily infected with corruption alongside their accomplices suffered a heavy blow on Friday over their attempt to emasculate the nation’s anti-corruption agencies, as the Supreme Court dismissed their suits against the agencies.
The apex court dismissed the suit instituted by 16 states of the federation against the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), challenging the constitutionality of the acts establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and two others.
The other agencies are the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
A seven-member justices, in a unanimous judgment, held that the suit was unmeritorious.
In the lead judgment by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, the Supreme Court resolved the six issues raised for determination in the suit against the plaintiffs.
The court held that the laws establishing the anti-corruption agencies were validly enacted by the National Assembly within its legislative competence.
It faulted the claim by the plaintiffs that the EFCC Act, being a product of the United Nations Convention on corruption, ought to be ratified by a majority of the state’s houses of assembly.
The plaintiffs had, in their suit, argued that the Supreme Court, in Dr Joseph Nwobike Vs Federal Republic of Nigeria, had held that it was a UN Convention against corruption that was reduced into the EFCC Establishment Act and that in enacting this law in 2004, the provision of Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, was not followed.
They argued that, in bringing a convention into Nigerian law, the provision of Section 12 must be complied with.
According to them, the provision of the constitution necessitated the majority of the states’ Houses of Assembly agreeing to bring the convention in before passing the EFCC Act and others, which was allegedly never done.
While delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Abba-Aji ruled that “the EFCC Act, which was not established from a treaty but a convention, does not need the ratification of the houses of assembly.”
“Let me first look at the constitutional provision. The plaintiffs rely on Section 12 of the Constitution in their argument. A treaty is an agreement reached by two or more countries that has to be ratified.
“Conventions are agreed by a larger number of nations. Conventions only come into force when a larger number of countries have agreed.
“Therefore, the EFCC Act, which is not a treaty but a convention does not need the ratification of the Houses of Assembly.
“A convention would have been ratified by member states and the National Assembly can make laws from it, which will be binding on all the states in Nigeria as it is the case of the EFCC Establishment Act,” the judge said.
The apex court, therefore, dismissed, the suit in its entirety and resolved the case against the plaintiffs.
“In a country like Nigeria, the federating units do not have absolute power. The NFIU guideline is to present a benchmark and not to control the funds.
“Where an Act of law is made by the National Assembly like the NFIU and its guideline, it is binding on all.
“Any act that has been competently enacted by the National Assembly cannot be said to be inconsistent,” she said.
The judge held that where the National Assembly had enacted several laws on corruption, money laundering, etc, no state had the right to make law to compete with it.
“The investigative power of the EFCC cannot be said to conflict with legislative powers of the state’s houses of assembly.
“I must agree with the honourable AGF that the plaintiffs’ argument, that is, the houses of assembly of the plaintiffs states, is not tenable in law,” she added.
Abba-Aji ruled that the NFIU guideline had not contravened the provision of the constitution in the management of the state’s funds and resolved the issues against the plaintiffs.
All other judges agreed with the lead judgment, saying all the issues raised in the states’ suit had no merit “and are accordingly dismissed.”
Justice Abba-Aji had earlier dismissed all objections of the Federal Government to the suit filed by the states.
Justice Abba-Aji said the plaintiffs’ case was against the AGF and not any of the agencies mentioned, hence, the Supreme Court had jurisdiction to determine it.
“Since the AGF is assumed to be the chief law officer of the federation, he is by all means the proper and necessary party in the suit..
“The AGF has locus standi to institute action against anyone and the AGF can be sued in any civil matter against the government.”
The judge held that it was clear that the Federal Government had legal tussle with the states based on the directive of the NFIU which the states were contending.
“Therefore, the preliminary objection is hereby dismissed,” he ruled.
Reacting, the Counsel to Kogi Attorney-General, Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, said, “This is an issue we have raised before the Federal High Court, it was not addressed.
“We raised it at the Appeal Court and was not addressed. This is going to enrich our jurisprudence. We thank Your Lordship for hearing us out.”
Representative of the AGF, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, said, “We convey our gratitude to the court for your wisdom. Your lordship has permanently settled the legality of the anti-corruption agency in fighting corruption.”
