The Ogun State Government has clarified that it is not part of the states challenging the constitutionality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Addressing reporters in Abeokuta, Ogun State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), said media reports suggesting a suit against the EFCC were ‘inaccurate’.

Ogungbade acknowledged the rights of other states to take legal action, saying, “We respect the decision of states that have filed such a challenge as it is their right to approach the court. That is allowed in a democracy.”

The commissioner urged the media organisations to correct the narrative to reflect Ogun’s non-involvement.

The EFCC’s constitutionality has come under scrutiny in recent weeks as over 15 states have contested its existence.

The suit was instituted by the Kogi State Government marked: SC/CV/178/2023, and other states who joined include Ondo, Edo, Oyo, Ogun, Nassarawa, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Enugu, Benue, Anambra, Plateau, Cross-River and Niger.

The suit was heard on October 22 and constituted a seven-man panel led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji.

The argument of the states in their suit, which had reportedly been corroborated by the Supreme Court in the previous case mentioned, is that the law, as enacted, could not be applied to states that never approved of it, in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian constitution.

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Among the reliefs, the states want is, “A declaration that the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit or any agency of the Federal Government lacks the power to issue any directive, guideline, advisory or any instrument, howsoever called for the administration and management of funds belonging to Kogi State of Nigeria or any Local Government Area of Kogi State”

The states also want a declaration that the EFCC, the NFIU, or any agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria cannot investigate, requisition documents, invite or arrest anyone concerning offences arising from or touching on the administration and management of funds belonging to Kogi State of Nigeria or any Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Meanwhile, Ogun State joined Lagos State among the states to debunk challenging EFCC’s existence.