A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit aimed at stopping the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating businessman Abu Samaila Isa Funtua over alleged fraud and economic crimes.
Presiding over the case, Justice Emeka Nwite ruled that the suit lacked merit, affirming that the EFCC has full legal authority to conduct investigations without requiring approval from any ministry or agency.
Funtua had filed the case against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and EFCC, claiming the anti-graft agency was acting on behalf of his business rivals to unfairly target him. He sought an order compelling the AGF to reassign the investigation to another security agency.
However, Justice Nwite ruled that neither the AGF nor any other government body has the authority to reassign EFCC investigations. He emphasized that the EFCC Act of 2004 grants the agency full independence to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.
With this ruling, the EFCC retains its power to continue its probe into Funtua’s alleged fraudulent dealings.
