Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says the judgment of the supreme court which dismissed the suit challenging the constitutionality of the act establishing the commission, has made the agency stronger.
Olukoyede spoke in Abuja on Thursday when a delegation of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) paid him a courtesy visit.
Roba Sharamo, IDEA’s regional director for Africa and West Asia, led the delegation to the EFCC headquarters.
“I want to let you know that we are more solid now than ever before,” the EFCC chairman said.
“You are aware that 19 governors took us to court. They went to court, and the judgement that was given makes us stronger than ever before.
“The supreme court justices gave it to them and reminded them that the supreme court has spoken on this matter and given judgement.
“So why are you wasting your states’ resources on it? Why are you wasting the time of this court by bringing this application to us again?
“Number one, they said that the EFCC has power over federal agencies, state agencies, and local government agencies.
“Number two, they said, where the EFCC is working, it has the right to cover the field. It is what we call the doctrine of covering the field in Nigeria.
“It’s a legal doctrine. It’s a principle that says that where a federal agency has covered the field, no state or local government agency has the right to compete with it.
“In other words, wherever the EFCC is operating, state or local government agencies don’t even have the power to meddle.”
