A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan has restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from proceeding with its planned investigation into the finances of the Oyo State Government, describing the move as speculative and tantamount to a fishing expedition.
Delivering judgment in a suit filed by the state government, Justice Nkeonye Maha held that while the EFCC possesses statutory powers to investigate financial crimes, such powers must be exercised strictly within constitutional limits and the rule of law.
The court found that the Commission’s June 2, 2025 letter to the Oyo State Accountant‑General, demanding details of all contracts awarded and payments made to contractors from 2021 to June 2025, was not premised on any specific allegation and therefore amounted to an unfounded inquiry. Justice Maha further ruled that the constitutional right to fair hearing cannot be undermined under the guise of investigation.
The Oyo State Government had sought judicial interpretation after the EFCC failed to clarify which contractors or transactions were under scrutiny. Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration maintained that approaching the court was not an attempt to evade investigation but a constitutional step to delineate the scope of EFCC’s powers.
In a statement, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, dismissed opposition claims that the suit was intended to shield the administration from scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State House of Assembly has approved Makinde’s request to proceed on his yearly leave, with the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, set to oversee the administration of the state during the period.
The leave will commence on August 10 and end on September 11, while the governor is expected to resume official duties on September 14, 2026.
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