Court Dismisses Suit Seeking To Halt EFCC Probe Of Abubakar Isa Over Alleged Fraud

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to compel the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating businessman Abubakar Ismail Isa over alleged fraud and economic crimes.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Emeka Nwite ruled that the request lacked merit and substance, affirming that the EFCC has full authority to investigate financial crimes without seeking approval from any ministry or agency.

The judge rejected Isa’s claim that the EFCC was acting on behalf of his business rivals and conducting a biased investigation. Justice Nwite stated that Section 174(3) of the 1999 Constitution does not empower the AGF to dictate which agency should handle investigations into financial crimes.
He reaffirmed that Section 43 of the EFCC Act 2004 grants the commission the legal authority to investigate and prosecute economic crimes independently.

Isa had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/2024) against the AGF and EFCC, arguing that he was being investigated without proper disclosure of allegations or evidence against him. He requested a mandamus order directing the AGF to stop the EFCC’s probe and assign another security agency to handle the case.

However, Justice Nwite ruled that the EFCC is not bound to take directives from any government ministry and dismissed the suit for lack of merit.