Foremost human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, on Thursday noted that contrary to the opinions of another SAN, Olisa Agbakoba, anti-graft agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and other related offences were competent to investigate the account of state governments.
The Senior Advocate made this known in a piece made available to our correspondent in Abuja.
“My respected colleague and comrade in the human rights community, Olisa Agbakoba SAN has questioned the legal competence of the anti-graft agencies to investigate the finances of state governments. He feels so convinced about his position that he has announced his intention to approach the federal high court to secure a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from probing the accounts of state governments.
“The controversy is completely needless in view of the fact that the appellate courts have held that the anti-graft agencies are competent to arrest, investigate and prosecute public officers and private individuals involved in the criminal diversion of public fund belonging to state governments. Some of the cases include the following: Kalu v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (2014) 1 NWLR (PT 1389) 479.
