The Ogun State Government has come out swinging, denying reports that it is part of a Supreme Court case challenging the legality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN, expressed frustration over the persistent media claims on Monday, branding them false and misleading.
“We do not have a suit against the EFCC, nor have we ever questioned its constitutionality,” Ogungbade said emphatically. “Despite our official statement last week, some media outlets continue to wrongly associate Ogun State with this case. This misinformation needs to stop.”
Ogungbade clarified that Ogun State respects the right of other states to pursue legal action against the EFCC but stressed that Ogun is not part of the legal battle. “We have not filed or joined any suit attacking the EFCC. Our court documents are public and show that we are not part of this campaign.”
He urged media houses to be more responsible and adhere to accurate reporting. “I hope the relevant outlets will take this clarification seriously and refrain from dragging Ogun State into a case that we have nothing to do with,” he said.
Ogungbade shed light on Ogun State’s real legal pursuit—challenging the National Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Guidelines issued in January 2023, not the EFCC’s existence.
“The suit we filed at the Supreme Court (SC/CV/912/2024) is aimed at invalidating the NFIU Guidelines, which interfere with Ogun State’s economic and governance interests. We are not questioning the EFCC's constitutionality,” the Attorney-General clarified.
Meanwhile, the legal war surrounding the EFCC has taken unexpected turns. At least five states have recently withdrawn from the Supreme Court case, initially spearheaded by the Kogi State Government. In a shocking move, the Benue State Governor suspended his Attorney-General for joining the lawsuit without his approval.
Despite the turbulence, Ogun State has distanced itself from the controversy. “We have no interest in reopening the debate on the EFCC’s legality,” said Kayode Akinmade, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy.
Akinmade emphasized that the constitutionality of both the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) was already settled by the Supreme Court. “Ogun State sees no need to revisit the matter. Our focus is on governance, not legal theatrics.”
Ogungbade reiterated that Ogun State supports the Federal Government’s anti-corruption efforts and has no interest in undermining national law enforcement. “As a federating unit with our own law enforcement, we are committed to maintaining law and order,” he said.
