*EFCC: GROUP HAILS JUDICIARY FOR UPHOLDING RULE OF LAW

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Journalists Against Corruption (JAC) has commended the judiciary for upholding the rule of law and saving our democracy from those it described as “desperate political predators”.

JAC spoke against the backdrop of last Friday’s decision of the Supreme Court that dismissed the suit filed by 19 states governments, led by Kogi State, challenging the constitutionality of the laws that established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

However, in a unanimous decision, a full panel of seven justices of the Supreme Court led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, dismissed the suit for lacking in merit and affirmed the legality of the laws that set up the anti-corruption agencies.

A statement issued on Monday by JAC’s Programme Coordinator, Kehinde Osifisan, said “the judiciary has once again risen to the occasion as the stabiliser of our democracy and saved the nation from political predators.”

The statement reads in part, “A silent revolution took place in our country last Friday when a full panel of the Supreme Court upheld the legality of the laws that set up anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC, ICPC and NFIU.

“That singular decision has restored the hope of most Nigerians in the judiciary and shown that it is the stabiliser of our nation’s democracy. Perhaps, we would appreciate better what the Supreme Court has done by that singular decision if we imagined for a moment what the implications would have been had the decision gone the other way.

“A special commendation goes to the Honourable Justice Uwani Abba-Aji-led panel for its courage and forthrightness in upholding the rule of law and serving the cause of justice.”

The group urged the anti-corruption agencies to intensify the fight against corruption and other vices that have plagued the nation and stunted its development.

“Now that the Supreme Court has removed the clog on the wheel of the fight against corruption, the anti-corruption agencies must redouble their efforts and rededicate themselves to the onerous task of reducing corruption to the barest minimum in every facet of our national life.

“The anti-corruption agencies must now beam their search lights on the states that wanted to emasculate them. They must also look at their collaborators and the turncoats who tried to use their positions and influence to obfuscate the correct position of the law. They must have something to hide,” the group added.

Supreme Court’s validation of EFCC, others, we have been vindicated’ – Oladele

The former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, Hon. Kayode Oladele, has lauded the recent Supreme Court judgement dismissing the suit filed by 19 states of the federation challenging the establishment and prosecutorial powers of key anti-corruption agencies of the federal government; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offenses Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, (NFIU).

The 19 states, led by Kogi State had approached the Apex Court in Nigeria to seek judicial interpretation and judgement on the existence and prosecutorial authority of the anti-corruption agencies in the states stating that a UN Convention against corruption had led to the EFCC Establishment Act and that in enacting this law in 2004, the provision of Section 12 of the Nigerian Constitution was not followed.

However, in a landmark judgment delivered on Friday, November 15, 2024 by a seven-member panel, led by Uwani Abba-Aji, the Supreme Court ruled that the laws establishing the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies were validly enacted by the National Assembly within its legislative competence. The Court, while striking out the case for lack of merit, pronounced as “selfish” the motives of the state governments challenging the establishment of the anti-graft agencies.

In a statement, Oladele stated that the decision of the Supreme Court is a “vindication of our position that Nigeria operates a co-operative federalism as opposed to dual federalism and under the co-operative federalism as practiced in Nigeria, some agencies like the EFCC, ICPC and NFIU are common agencies for both the Federal and State Government and such, the EFCC is qualified as any other authority to institute criminal proceedings under section 174(1)(b) and section 211(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)”.

Oladele also believed that, the decision is another bold step towards enhancing the operational capacities of the anti-graft agencies in Nigeria. It has finally put to rest the desperation by some powerful forces to truncate the federal government’s efforts in fighting and taming the monster of corruption in the country and I have no doubt in my mind that the judgement will further enhance and strengthen the operational capacity of our anti graft agencies”.

“By this judgement, the investigative and prosecutorial powers of EFCC and ICPC over crimes committed at both the states and federal levels have been affirmed and our arguments have been sustained by the Supreme Court”, Oladele added.

It could be recalled that both Mr. Femi Falana, SAN and Hon. Kayode Oladele had locked horns in recent times with and the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN over the constitutionality of the EFCC. While Mr. Agbakoba had argued in a letter to the National Assembly that
the EFCC was unconstitutionally established as “the powers under which it was established go beyond the powers of the National Assembly” and therefore, should be abolished; both Falana and Oladele had posited that the view expressed by Agbakoba “did not have any legal backing and therefore unsupportable in law and practice, but mere sophistry”.

Grace Nation Global: ideas rules the World – Dr Chris Okafor.

How wealthy you are is determined by the People around you, the kind of People you relate with, also your state of Poverty is also determined by whom you mingled with, therefore Money is not meant to be chased but attracted.

This is the foundation raised today the 17th November 2024 at the Special Anointing of Feet and Money service held at the international Headquarters of Grace Nation world-wide aka Liberation City in Ojodu Berger Lagos Nigeria.

Teaching on the Topic Dimension of wealth through influence and Connections, Senior Pastor Grace Nation Global also known as the Generational Prophet of God Dr Chris Okafor stated clearly that Wealth mindset is built around ideas, when you mindset want to be poor, there is nothing you can do, Poverty will be Evidential in your life but with your determination to make wealth your mindset focus on the people and environment that will Make your dreams comes true, that will be your target.

The clergyman emphasised that when God wants to bless you, he does two things which are spiritual, first, God will connect you with influential people.

God blesses people through connecting them with there helpers of destiny, Mind you, Connection is stronger than contact, when you check your contact but are not connected with the contact, it becomes fruitless effort, but when you are connected Angel called money will be residing in your abode.

Spiritually God sent the Angel called Money to people basically because of their commitment in the vineyard, when you do God’s Wishes, he pays your bills therefore, your ideas and commitment can influence God’s Greatest dimension of wealth in your life, The Generational Prophet of God Dr Chris Okafor remarked.

Special feet washing exercises took place as God servant anointed Money with Prophetic declaration of miracle money to faithful, The Man of God declares that between now and the end of the year many Millionaires will spring up within Grace Nation international citizens.

Different kinds of miracles took place at the service, Deliverance, healing and restoration of Glories, Miracle Babies were also released by Elohim while the Kingdom of God received New Convert, as they give their life to christ,to the Glory of God…