Benue State’s Governor Hyacinth Alia has placed on suspension his Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Fidelis Mnyim, for joining a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Mnyim joined colleagues from other states in contesting the legality of the establishment of the anti-corruption agencies.
The suit, filed by 19 states, questions the constitutionality of the laws that formed the EFCC.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments in the case but reserved its judgment. The states challenging the EFCC law include Kogi, Katsina, Sokoto, Enugu, Oyo, Benue, and others. The plaintiffs claim that the EFCC Establishment Act, passed in 2004, did not comply with Section 12 of the Nigerian Constitution, which requires proper legislative procedures to domesticate international conventions, such as the UN Convention against Corruption.
While some states, including Imo and Bauchi, joined the case as co-plaintiffs, others, like Anambra, Ebonyi, and Adamawa, withdrew from the lawsuit.
Osun State also sought the consolidation of the suit.
The court has reserved ruling on the case and is expected to announce a date for its judgement later.
