COURT DISMISSES AKWA IBOM SUIT CHALLENGING EFCC’S POWERS

The Federal High Court in Uyo has dismissed a suit filed by the Akwa Ibom State Government challenging the powers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the state government’s financial activities.

Justice M.A. Onyetenu delivered the ruling on Thursday, October 8, 2026, upholding a preliminary objection filed by the EFCC’s legal team against the suit instituted in 2017 by the then Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uwemedimo Nwoko.

The dispute began in 2016 after some indigenes petitioned the EFCC over alleged diversion of state resources from their intended use for public welfare and development.

Following the petition, the commission commenced an investigation and invited some government officials for questioning. The officials, through the state Attorney General, subsequently approached the Akwa Ibom State High Court in Ikot Ekpene to challenge the commission’s actions.

While that case was pending, the Attorney General instituted another suit at the Federal High Court, challenging the EFCC’s authority to investigate the state’s financial activities. The suit also involved other federal government agencies.

On July 6, 2016, the late Justice F.O. Riman granted an interim restraining order against the EFCC and other federal agencies pending the determination of the case.

The order was later relied upon in challenging attempts by the commission to invite state officials for questioning. However, an appeal against the restraining order was unsuccessful, with the Court of Appeal directing the parties to return to the trial court and await the determination of the substantive suit.

In its preliminary objection, EFCC counsel Joshua Abolarin argued that the federal suit was incompetent because a similar case involving the parties remained pending before the Akwa Ibom State High Court in Ikot Ekpene.

Justice Onyetenu upheld the objection and dismissed the entire suit.

The ruling marks another development in the prolonged legal dispute over the EFCC’s authority to investigate the financial activities of the Akwa Ibom State Government.