A Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo state has restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating or demanding financial records relating to the bank accounts of the Oyo State Government.
The order followed a legal action filed by the Oyo State Government, which challenged the anti-graft agency’s attempt to obtain information on its accounts from commercial banks. Meanwhile, the state argued that the EFCC lacked the constitutional authority to investigate or scrutinise the state’s finances without following due legal process.
In its judgment on suit FHC/IB/CS/61/2025 delivered on Wednesday, July 22, 2025, the Federal High Court ruled in favour of the Oyo State Government. The court affirmed that while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is legally empowered to investigate financial crimes and related offences, such authority must be exercised within the confines of the Constitution and the rule of law.
Justice Nkeonye Maha held that the commission’s proposed probe into the Oyo State Government’s finances. He further stressed his point referencing that the demands contained in its June 2, 2025 letter, was speculative and amounted to a fishing expedition.
Thereby, the court found that the EFCC failed to provide sufficient justification for the wide-ranging nature of its inquiries, stressing that investigative powers cannot be exercised arbitrarily or without a lawful basis.
However, the judge further ruled that the constitutional right of the plaintiffs to a fair hearing could not be violated under the guise of an investigation. While emphasizing that law enforcement agencies must at all times adhere to due process and act strictly within the limits of their legal mandate.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
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