Renowned lawyer, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has raised constitutional concerns regarding law enforcement agencies in Nigeria and their impact on the government’s anti-corruption efforts, as outlined in Section 13 of the Constitution. In letters to the Senate and House of Representatives, he stated that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was unlawfully established.
Agbakoba, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, emphasized that the powers granted to the EFCC exceeded those of the National Assembly, making it an unlawful organization. He commended states challenging the EFCC’s constitutionality and called for a public hearing to address these issues.
In his letter to the Deputy Senate President, Agbakoba urged for urgent legislative attention on constitutional reforms related to law enforcement agencies and anti-corruption efforts. He highlighted the need for stakeholders to discuss reforms that align with the government’s objective of eradicating corruption as mandated in the Constitution.