The Anambra State Government has announced its withdrawal from a suit challenging the legality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The decision to back out of the lawsuit was made known by Prof. Sylvia Ifemeje, the Attorney General of the state, on Tuesday morning.
Ifemeje informed the Supreme Court of the state’s decision to exit the lawsuit originally filed by Kogi State. The withdrawal notice was dated October 20.
The development comes after Osun State sought to consolidate its grievances against the EFCC with Kogi State. Osun State’s Attorney-General, Mr Oluwole Bada, told the Supreme Court that the state seeks the same reliefs as Kogi State.
Other states that announced their appearances in the case include Kogi, Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Oyo, Benue, Plateau, Cross River, Ondo, Niger, Edo, Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba, Ebonyi, Imo and Nasarawa. Sokoto State, initially a co-plaintiff, did not send a representative.
Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, did not oppose Anambra’s withdrawal.
The EFCC was established by an Act of the National Assembly on December 12, 2002. However, the 16 plaintiff states argue that Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution was not complied with, requiring majority approval from state Houses of Assembly. They claim the EFCC’s establishment ignored this provision.
The states, therefore, contend that the EFCC’s operations are illegal.