In a major development on Friday, the Supreme Court dismissed a case brought by 16 states challenging the legality of the legislation establishing three key anti-corruption agencies: the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
Delivering a unanimous verdict, a seven-member panel of justices held that the suit was without merit.
Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, in the lead judgment, ruled against the plaintiffs on all six issues they presented for determination.
The court affirmed that the laws creating the anti-corruption bodies were duly enacted by the National Assembly within its constitutional powers.
The court also dismissed the argument by the plaintiffs that the EFCC Act, being derived from a United Nations convention on corruption, required ratification by the majority of state houses of assembly to be valid.
This decision reinforces the authority of the National Assembly in enacting laws aimed at addressing corruption and financial crimes in Nigeria.
