A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order prohibiting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), as well as four others from probing, arresting, prosecuting and restricting the movement of former Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle, his family members and his associates over allegations of fraud in the handling of the state’s funds.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed issued the order yesterday while delivering judgment on a suit filed by Matawalle and prosecuted by his lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN).
Justice Mohammed upheld the argument of the plaintiff’s lawyer that in view of an earlier judgment, given on May 31, 2023 by Justice Aminu Aliyu of the Gusau Division of the court, in a suit between the Zamfara State government and another v. EFCC and another, the EFCC lacked the powers to investigate Matawalle or prosecute him, members of his family and his associates on his handling of the state’s funds while in office.
The judge granted all the reliefs sought in the suit, except Relief 5.
He declared that the EFCC “has no powers or authority under any law in force in Nigeria to investigate and/or prosecute public officials for allegations of corrupt practices,” voided the report of commission’s investigation and any other steps taken on Matawalle’s handling of Zamfara State’s funds while in office.
