Falana insists on EFCC’s autonomy amid calls for scrapping

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been at the center of controversy, with calls for its dissolution sparking heated debate. Renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana, however, insists the anti-graft agency is here to stay.

“For me, the ICPC and the EFCC, like the Code of Conduct Tribunal, have come to stay,” Falana stated on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics. “What we should be demanding are measures to make these institutions autonomous, not under the control of any government.”

Falana emphasized the Supreme Court’s stance that the EFCC should operate independently of federal control, serving as a vital tool against economic crimes, financial crimes and corruption.

Read Also: DSS names Rasheed Lawal as new chief security officer for President Tinubu

“And the Supreme Court has maintained rather repeatedly concerning the EFCC and ICPC; that these are common agencies, 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.”

Contrary to Falana’s views, Olisa Agbakoba, former Nigerian Bar Association President, contends the EFCC was unlawfully established. In letters to the Senate and House of Representatives dated October 14, 2024, Agbakoba argued, “The powers under which it was established go beyond the National Assembly’s powers. The EFCC is an unlawful organization.” Agbakoba welcomed the 16-state challenge to the EFCC’s constitutionality, believing it would settle validity questions.

The 16 states – including Ondo, Edo, Oyo and Niger – claim the EFCC’s establishing laws contradict the Constitution, rendering them null and void. The Supreme Court, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, has scheduled a hearing for October 22.

Falana stressed the EFCC and ICPC’s establishment aligns with Section 15, Sub-Section 5 of Nigeria’s Constitution, mandating the state to combat corruption.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now