A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit aimed at stopping the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating allegations of fraud and economic crimes involving businessman Abu Samaila Isa Funtua.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the case, ruled that the suit lacked merit and substance. The businessman had sought an order compelling the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to intervene and reassign the investigation to another federal security agency.
Delivering judgment, Justice Nwite emphasized that while the AGF has substantial authority in criminal matters, such powers are not absolute. He cited Section 43 of the EFCC Act 2004, which empowers the anti-graft agency to initiate investigations without requiring approval from any ministry or government agency.
Funtua had alleged that the EFCC was biased and acting maliciously, claiming that the agency was being used by his business adversaries to target him unfairly. However, the court ruled that Section 174(3) of the 1999 Constitution does not grant the AGF the power to reassign economic crime investigations to other agencies.
Justice Nwite reaffirmed the EFCC’s independence in carrying out its statutory duties and dismissed the suit for lack of merit.
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