• Hausa Edition
  • Podcast
  • Conferences
  • LeVogue Magazine
  • Business News
  • Print Advert Rates
  • Online Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
Monday, June 30, 2025
Leadership Newspapers
Read in Hausa
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Leadership Newspapers
No Result
View All Result

CSOs To AGF: You Can’t Fight Legal Battle With Illegality

by Leadership News
8 months ago
in News
CSOs To AGF
Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on XTelegram

Hundreds of Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria have protested what they described as the federal government’s deliberate attempt to disrespect the Nigerian Constitution and destroy the principles of federalism by using illegally constituted anti-graft agencies.

Advertisement

The CSOs, numbering about 200, said the attempt by the federal government to frustrate the hearing of the case instituted by 19 state governments, challenging the constitutionality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and two others, was an indication that the Government was aware of the illegality of the anti-graft agencies and was trying to put pressure on the Supreme Court.

In a statement on Sunday, signed by Comrade Ifeanyi Odili, President of Campaign for Democracy, and Dr Dapo Oluwole of the Transparency and Accountability Network, TAN, the activists faulted the Federal Government’s alleged pressure on the Supreme Court to dismiss a valid case. They noted that they fully supported the fight against corruption but would not support the shenanigans of agencies working against the success of anti-graft efforts.

To them, the objections the Attorney-General of the Federation raised in its application had no bearing on the case at hand because they did not address the issue at stake—constitutionality.

They called on the judiciary to ignore harassment and intimidation by the executive at the centre, saying that a situation where successive administrations perceived the EFCC, in particular, as a tool for intimidation must stop in the interest of true federalism.

RELATED

Current Reform Targets Taxing Prosperity, Not Poverty – Aderonke

FIRS Gifts MSME Operator With Cash, Car For Tax Compliance

1 hour ago
Deploying AI Will Not Cause Job Loss In Nigeria – Expert

Expert Introduces Lightweight AI-based System For Early Aviation Failure Detection

2 hours ago

According to them, this is why corruption has continued to plague rather than reduce.
The statement reads: „We, as a group of Civil Society Organizations across Nigeria, have deemed it fit to also intervene in the current debate and litigations regarding the constitutionality or otherwise of the establishment of the EFCC, NFIU, ICPC, etc.

“When it comes to constitutional matters, all issues of concern must be properly and thoroughly interrogated and resolved by the judiciary without any attempts by the federal government to throw its weight around. In a federation like ours, the federal government is not superior to the federating units and cannot always breathe down their necks, especially on matters of concurrent jurisdiction.

“This is not to suggest that we oppose the establishment of anti-graft agencies. Nigeria needs effective anti-corruption agencies to arrest the dangerous trends of the epidemic of corruption in Nigeria’s public and private spaces. Corruption is holding this country down. It is killing us, and it must be terminated or, at least, subdued.

“However, you cannot fight a legal battle with an illegal body.

To do so is to stand the very principle of justice on its head. Suppose it is discovered that establishing our anti-graft agencies was outside of the constitutional processes stipulated by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. In that case, there is an urgent need for that aberration to be treated and healed before proceeding. Otherwise, all the actions of the anti-graft agencies would eventually amount to a nullity in the long run.

This will be to the advantage of the Federal Government, which can now operationalise the anti-graft agencies without let or hindrance. This is why it becomes so strange that the Federal Government is raising objections against something they should take full advantage of.

We see a deliberate design to force a fait accompli down the throat of the Judiciary in this matter by the Federal Government, and this is not only unacceptable but will be resisted by all legal means, including public actions by CSOs. What exactly is the Federal Government afraid of? Why would you come against answers being demanded on constitutional questions?

All the Federal Government needs to do is to organise its best legal minds to engage this matter in court to its logical conclusion without this overly agitated attempt to shoot it down or frustrate it.

The preliminary objection countersuit by the Federal Government is unnecessary, unwarranted, and fundamentally gratuitous. A student who has performed well should never be afraid of his or her paper to pass through reexamination. The judiciary has resolved many constitutional issues, which will continue to happen.

Why should anyone be opposed to this one? It is corruption to say that a court of competent jurisdiction should not determine the constitutional issues surrounding anti-corruption agencies. It is ridiculous to argue that the highest court in the land lacks jurisdiction over a constitutional issue. Which court can then entertain it?

States or organisations or even individuals, as bonafide citizens of this country, have a right to question the legality or constitutionality, as the case may be, of an activity or agency of government, and they have a right to be heard. To stifle that right through legal fraud, as the federal government is now attempting to do, is reprehensible.

We, as civil society organisations, are interested in finally resolving all constitutional issues regarding the establishment and operations of all government agencies, including the antigraft commissions.

This should be allowed to run its course without complications.“


We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →

Join Our WhatsApp Channel

BREAKING NEWS: Nigerians can now earn US Dollars from the comfort of their homes with Ultra-Premium domains, acquire them for as low as $1700 and profit as much as $25,000. Click here to learn how you can earn US Dollars consistently.


Tags: CSOs
SendShareTweetShare
Previous Post

PICTORIAL: Trump Tackles Kamala Over Work History, Visits McDonald’s In Pennsylvania As Campaign Heats Up

Next Post

We Owe Elimination Of Guinea Worm To Gowon’s Leadership – Carter Centre

Leadership News

Leadership News

You May Like

Current Reform Targets Taxing Prosperity, Not Poverty – Aderonke
News

FIRS Gifts MSME Operator With Cash, Car For Tax Compliance

2025/06/30
Deploying AI Will Not Cause Job Loss In Nigeria – Expert
Business

Expert Introduces Lightweight AI-based System For Early Aviation Failure Detection

2025/06/30
FirstBank Customers Get N93m In ‘Win Big Promo’
Business

FirstBank Launches Facial Recognition On Mobile App

2025/06/30
Group To Drive Africa’s Tech-led Industrial Revolution, Offers Tips To Unlock $450bn Intra-African Trade
Business

Group To Drive Africa’s Tech-led Industrial Revolution, Offers Tips To Unlock $450bn Intra-African Trade

2025/06/30
Oilserv Targets December Completion Of 303km As AKK Pipeline Crosses River Niger
Business

Oilserv Targets December Completion Of 303km As AKK Pipeline Crosses River Niger

2025/06/30
Council Targets Accelerated Sugar Project Devt In 2025
Business

Poor Backward Integration Programme Performance To Cost Sugar Firms Import Quotas

2025/06/30
Leadership Conference advertisement

LATEST

Gov Yusuf Leads Kano Delegation To Dantata’s Burial In Saudi Arabia

FIRS Gifts MSME Operator With Cash, Car For Tax Compliance

Expert Introduces Lightweight AI-based System For Early Aviation Failure Detection

FirstBank Launches Facial Recognition On Mobile App

Group To Drive Africa’s Tech-led Industrial Revolution, Offers Tips To Unlock $450bn Intra-African Trade

Oilserv Targets December Completion Of 303km As AKK Pipeline Crosses River Niger

Poor Backward Integration Programme Performance To Cost Sugar Firms Import Quotas

TAJBank Sustains Industry Feat, Pays 3rd Dividend In 5 Years

Terra Cube Unveils “Unwrap Smiles Squad”

‘Dangote’s Investment Of N720bn On CNG Trucks To Save Nigerians N1.7trn’

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.