The Lagos State government has officially announced its decision not to join a lawsuit filed by several states challenging the constitutionality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Establishment Act.
This decision stems from an existing case between Lagos State and the EFCC on a similar issue.
Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), addressed the media in Ikeja, explaining that the state has already enacted a law to establish its own anti-corruption agency.
The EFCC, through the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), has contested this law in the Supreme Court.
Pedro noted, “My response to the question as to why Lagos State government is not one of the claimant states that is challenging the EFCC is that the Lagos State government enacted a law on public complaints and anti-corruption agency to set up the state anti-corruption agency commission to tackle corruption in states.
However, the EFCC, through the office of the AGF, decided to challenge that law at the Supreme Court. So, if we had joined the matter, it would amount to an abuse of the court process.”
He further elaborated on the implications of the pending case, stating, “It is that suit filed by the AGF that has delayed the operation of the state agency. We hope the Supreme Court will give us a date to resolve the matter very soon.”
Pedro clarified the roles of various agencies in investigating and prosecuting corruption cases, emphasizing that while the EFCC and police can investigate, the authority to prosecute state offenses lies with the state Attorney-General.
“So any other agency that is prosecuting state offences is only doing it on behalf of the Attorney General because they are deemed to have the fiat of the Attorney General of the state to prosecute state offences,” he explained.
Addressing speculation regarding the state’s decision not to join the lawsuit due to President Bola Tinubu’s affiliation with Lagos, Pedro clarified, “Some have asked if we are not joining the suit due to the president’s affiliation with Lagos. I want to clarify that this is not the case; we have a pending action for the Supreme Court to decide.”
The Lagos State government’s stance reflects its commitment to resolving the existing legal matter while navigating the complexities of anti-corruption efforts within the state.
