Benue State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim has been suspended by Governor Hyacinth Alia, in a brave move that has gained widespread acceptance.
Mnyim was sanctioned after listing Benue State among the States, challenging the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) at the Supreme Court.
Two States – Imo and Bauchi – joined the suit as co-plaintiffs, Osun State sought a consolidation of the suit, while three States – Anambra, Ebonyi and Adamawa – withdrew their suits, according to Channels Television.
But 19 States still in the suit are Kogi, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Enugu, Oyo, Benue, Plateau, Cross River, Ondo, Niger, Edo, Bauchi, Imo, Osun, Nasarawa, Ogun, and Taraba.
The apex court on Tuesday reserved judgment date that would be comminuted to parties in the suit filed by 19 States contesting the legality of the laws establishing the EFCC.
The States argued that it was the UN Convention against corruption that was reduced into the EFCC Establishment Act and that in enacting this law in 2004, the provision of Section 12 of the Nigerian Constitution was not followed.
The Claimants argued that in bringing a convention into the Nigerian law, the provision of Section 12 must be complied with.
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