Benue Attorney General Suspended by Governor Alia for Challenging EFCC and ICPC

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has taken the decision to suspend Fidelis Mnyim, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order. The suspension stems from Mnyim's involvement in a legal challenge alongside other states regarding the establishment and legitimacy of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). On Tuesday, the Supreme Court postponed its ruling on a case brought forth by 19 states contesting the constitutionality of the laws that created the EFCC. Among the states, Imo and Bauchi have joined the case as co-plaintiffs, while Osun State has requested a consolidation of the suit. Conversely, three states—Anambra, Ebonyi, and Adamawa—have opted to withdraw their claims. The 19 states remaining in the case include Kogi, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Enugu, Oyo, Benue, Plateau, Cross River, Ondo, Niger, Edo, Bauchi, Imo, Osun, Nasarawa, Ogun, and Taraba. These states contend that the EFCC Establishment Act was derived from the United Nations Convention against Corruption and assert that the enactment of this law in 2004 did not adhere to the stipulations of Section 12 of the Nigerian Constitution. They maintain that compliance with Section 12 is essential when incorporating a convention into Nigerian law. The court has yet to deliver its judgment on the matter.