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Lawyer Asks Court To Void EFCC, NSCDC Acts

Published

5 months ago

June 30, 2025

A lawyer, Joshua Ijaodola, has filed suits at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to nullify the Acts establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, citing their unconstitutionality.

Ijaodola, in two fresh suits dated June 23 and filed on June 24, argued that the Acts violated Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) in 2018 and 2023, respectively.

In the first suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1231/2025, the lawyer sued the National Assembly, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force, and the EFCC as the first to fourth defendants.

In the second suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1232/2025, the National Assembly, AGF, NPF, and NSCDC were named as the first to fourth defendants, respectively.

In an affidavit of non-multiplication of actions submitted in support of the suits, Ijaodola affirmed that the matter was not pending before any other court.

In the case against the EFCC, the lawyer sought an order declaring the Act establishing the agency “unconstitutional and in violation of Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) in 2023.”

He posed a sole legal question for determination, “Whether or not the Act establishing the 4th defendant (EFCC) is unconstitutional and in violation of Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) in 2023.”

The same relief was sought in the suit against the NSCDC.

In his affidavit supporting the EFCC suit, Ijaodola argued that the National Assembly created the EFCC as “an economic police” under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004.

He maintained that the third defendant is the constitutionally empowered body responsible for detecting, preventing, apprehending, and prosecuting crimes under Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 4 of the Police Act, 2022.

He contended that the first defendant (National Assembly), through Section 6 of the EFCC Act, delegated part of the police’s statutory duties to the fourth defendant.

He further alleged that Section 8(5) of the EFCC Act effectively grants police powers to the EFCC, including the authority to investigate, arrest, detain, and prosecute economic offenders, which contravenes Section 214 of the Constitution.

In the case against the NSCDC, Ijaodola argued that the National Assembly established the NSCDC under the NSCDC (Amendment) Act, 2007, granting it police powers that also contravened Section 214 of the Constitution.

He submitted that both the EFCC and the NSCDC have been usurping the constitutional powers of the police under the guise of their enabling Acts.

The lawyer further stated that the Nigerian government, represented by the AGF (second defendant), had been spending billions of naira on maintaining the EFCC and NSCDC, despite their unconstitutional establishment.

He urged the court to grant his applications in the interest of justice and the supremacy of the Constitution.

“The declaration is made conscientiously, believing it to be true, under the provisions of the Oaths Act,” he said.

The suits are yet to be assigned to a judge for hearing.

News

Tinubu Orders Defence Minister To Relocate To Kebbi State Over Abduction Of 25 School Girls

Published

9 hours ago

November 20, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi State over the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday.

Matawalle, who was formerly governor of Zamfara State, was asked to remain in the state to monitor security efforts to secure the release of the abducted students.

Gunmen abducted 24 students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, Kebbi State, around 4am on Monday.

Matawalle, who is expected to arrive in Birni-Kebbi on Friday, gained some experience in dealing with banditry and mass kidnapping during his tenure as governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023.

On 26 February 2021, armed bandits abducted 279 female students aged between 10 and 17 at the Government Girls Science Secondary School, a boarding school in Jangebe, in Zamfara State. The bandits released all the hostages on 2 March 2021.

President Tinubu had postponed his scheduled trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, as he awaited further security briefings on the kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls and the attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.

News

Nigeria Now Deadliest Place On Earth To Be Christian – Nigerian Bishop Laments

Published

9 hours ago

November 20, 2025

Editor

Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Benue State, Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe, says Nigeria has become the deadliest place on earth to be a Christian.

Bishop Anagbe made this statement on Thursday while testifying before the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa, which is investigating Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’, CPC

Speaking before the US Congress, the Bishop said that the controversy escalated after President Trump designated Nigeria on the CPC list on 31 October 2025.

He alleged systematic persecution of Christians in the country, saying “Attacks by Fulani militants and Boko Haram have intensified, targeting Christian communities with impunity.

“More believers are killed there annually than in the rest of the world combined, yet perpetrators face little accountability.

“Violence is spreading, displacing millions and destroying farmland, creating a humanitarian crisis worsened by food insecurity. Without urgent intervention, Christianity risks being wiped out in Northern and Middle Belt Nigeria.

“Nigeria, already designated a Country of Particular Concern, must now be met with decisive action,” he said.

News

Christian Genocide: Back Nigeria CPC Redesignation With Action, Nigerian Bishop Begs Trump

Published

10 hours ago

November 20, 2025

Editor

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, in Benue State, Wilfred Anagbe, has appealed to President Donald Trump of the United States to match its renewed designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, CPC, with concrete action.

Bishop Anagbe made this call on Thursday, while testifying before the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa, which is investigating Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a CPC

He said, “On behalf of millions of Christians in Nigeria and in the diaspora, we want to thank President Donald Trump for his bold leadership in designating Nigeria as a CPC. I commend you and this subcommittee for ongoing efforts on this matter.

“It is a vital step, but must be backed by serious action. One, use the Magnitsky Act for targeted sanctions against Nigerian government officials and others tolerating or condoning Islamic violence in the country.”

The cleric also called on lawmakers to tie security and humanitarian aid to measurable improvements.

“Expand humanitarian support for IDPs. The IDPs must return to their ancestral homes, and this requires security guarantees from the Nigerian Government,” he said.

Bishop Anagbe told lawmakers that many Christian victims in Benue remain traumatised, adding that one priest he knows cannot walk after surviving a terrorist attack.

‘Deborah Samuel’s murderers remain free’ – US defends designation of Nigeria as CPC
He accused the federal government of downplaying casualty figures and abandoning survivors of repeated assaults.”

Anagbe also argued that President Donald Trump’s earlier CPC designation “aimed to stabilise Nigeria” but “worsened the safety of Christians.”