NewStats: 3,261,969 , 8,175,698 topics. Date: Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 10:12 AM 2q103

Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, former President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), has written to the National Assembly over constitutional issues related to law enforcement agencies in Nigeria and factors inhibiting the government’s objective of abolishing corruption as stated in Section 13 of the Constitution.

In two separate letters to the Senate and House of Representatives, dated October 14, 2024, he said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was an unlawful organisation, which he believed was “unconstitutionally established”.

“I very strongly believe the EFCC is unconstitutionally established. The powers under which it was established go beyond the powers of the National Assembly. The EFCC is an unlawful organization,” Agbakoba, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, said.

The letters were addressed separately to the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin; and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu. The Deputy Speaker doubles as the Chairman, House Committee on Constitution Review, while Senator Jibrin is Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution Review.

Agbakoba noted that he was delighted to note that many states had finally taken it upon themselves to challenge the constitutionality of the EFCC, saying, “This will put to rest the question relating to the validity of the EFCC.”

“I write to draw attention to certain constitutional issues on matters related to law enforcement agencies. As you are obviously aware, the fundamental objective of the government is to abolish corruption. But from my observation, there is no harmony amongst law enforcement agencies on corruption. They all appear to be working at cross purposes.

“This has been confirmed by the Supreme Court in so many cases. The Supreme Court has consistently sanctioned the EFCC for its conduct and questioned if the EFCC can in fact validly do what it does. I will go further to say that I very strongly believe the EFCC is unconstitutionally established. The powers under which it was established go beyond the powers of the National Assembly. The EFCC is an unlawful organization.

“I am very delighted to note that many states have finally taken it upon themselves to challenge the constitutionality of the EFCC. This will put to rest the question relating to the validity of the EFCC. Whilst we await the decision of the Supreme Court as the final court on the matter, I respectfully request that the Senate convene a public hearing to consider these constitutional issues.

“Such a hearing would provide an invaluable platform for stakeholders to discuss the reforms needed to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and institutional frameworks for law enforcement and anti-corruption, which will meet the stated and laudable objective of the government to abolish corruption as stated in Section 13 of the Constitution.

“I trust that, under your capable leadership, the Senate Constitution Review Committee will give these matters urgent attention in the interest of our nation’s development.

“Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. I look forward to your response.”


The letter to the Deputy Senate President, titled, “Urgent Legislative Attention on Constitutional Reforms Relating to Law Enforcement Agencies and Anti-Corruption Efforts”, reads: “I commend you for the remarkable leadership you have demonstrated as Chairman, Senate Constitution Review Committee, particularly in advancing the government’s reform agenda through a robust constitutional framework. Your efforts to strengthen the legal infrastructure underpinning the nation’s development programs are indeed commendable.

Dele Oyewale, spokesman of EFCC, could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report as multiple attempts to reach him via telephone did not yield result.

https://dailytrust.com/agbakoba-writes-national-assembly-says-efcc-is-an-unlawful-organisation/

Too many lawlessness in the land.

Lol.....


Same EFCC who claimed to have dropped charges of money laundering against bobrisky while bobrisky claimed on a VN that he bribed them with 15m to drop the charges.

You and I know that EFCC is a commission created by the incumbent leaders to witch-hunt their enemies and not to fight crime.

Governors are the worst set of politicians in Nigeria.

They want to continue to steal with impunity without any one checkmate them.

This has nothing to do with the masses, it's the governors greed that is driving them.

Oluboh:


https://dailytrust.com/agbakoba-writes-national-assembly-says-efcc-is-an-unlawful-organisation/

On God

🫤

Bobbyrisky Falana

Loop-hole found it’s time to explore


So if EFCC is an illegal organization then all it’s case too should be thrown out

with all this efcc here and there ,












efcc should start doing the right things too















we love you
our role model Princess FChukwu

They want to turn Efcc to Road Safety.

Why didn’t he speak at the time?

Oluboh:


https://dailytrust.com/agbakoba-writes-national-assembly-says-efcc-is-an-unlawful-organisation/

EFCC assumed excess powers by itself. Often, its officials collect cuts from politicians accused of stealing multibillion Naira and make the case not progress in court.

It's well

...the EFCC has turned itself to LASTMA

Appletek:
They want to turn Efcc to Road Safety.

Appletek:
They want to turn Efcc to Road Safety.

They should do as soon as possible. EFCC left their official roles of chasing corrupt politicians and recovery of public funds to chasing yahoo boys with $100 iTunes card. Imagine the whole phones, money, cars and properties the so called EFCC have seized from the so called yahoo boys, you can never find such in their offices.

Shame on the chairman of EFCC, I’m disappointed in you.
You can’t handle the agency given to you. You turned yourself to a political tools to opposition.

Yaya Bello will be very happy with this news.

Another set of financial criminals

Na wa o!

Politically correct lawyer.

Just when the matter is before the Supreme Court, Agbakoba decided to write his letter, not minding that it might prejudice the matter already pending before the Supreme Court.

G

potent5:
Politically correct lawyer.

Just when the matter is before the Supreme Court, Agbakoba decided to write his letter, not minding that it might prejudice the matter already pending before the Supreme Court.

He is Aba made lawyer.

Is the EFCC unconstitutional? I don't know but it's obvious they are weak and can't fight corruption in high places neither are they independent.

Are the state governors fighting EFCC inorder to fight corruption? Definitely not.

tunjijones:
Governors are the worst set of politicians in Nigeria.

They want to continue to steal with impunity without any one checkmate them.

This has nothing to door with the masses, it's the governors greed that is driving them.

How many ex governors have been convicted and jailed since the creation of efcc?

Yahya Bello and all the Yahoo boys all over Nigeria will be celebrating now! The governors and senseless lawyers are now fighting their battle.

The EFCC, IC should be scrapped and redeployed to the police as a department.

EFCC doing the work of the police

SANs that think they are smart are trying to turn everything upside down

He might be wrong. Let us await the supreme court pronouncement on the matter

This is exceptional. Law abiding Nigerians must raise to the occasion and hold government bodies able for their actions and inactions. Credit must be given to this man.

Nigeria is not an animal farm where some people are “More Equal, than Others”. Law enforcement agencies can’t act like animals.

There are the people destroying the country in in the name.of SAN. On one hand they are saying there is corruption, on the other hand they are encouraging it