Lagos Attorney General: Joining EFCC Act Challenge Would Be Court Process Abuse

Lawal Pedro (SAN), the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, has explained why Lagos has not joined other states in contesting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act at the Supreme Court.

Pedro stated that such participation would constitute an abuse of the court process, offering this perspective during a Strategic Management Meeting with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and other stakeholders in Ikeja.

He pointed out that Lagos State has already established its own public complaints and anti-corruption agency through state legislation, aimed at tackling corruption within the state.

The EFCC and the Federal Attorney General have, in turn, challenged this Lagos State law at the Supreme Court. According to Pedro, joining the ongoing legal dispute would be redundant, as Lagos already has a pending case on the matter.

Pedro acknowledged that while the federal government has the authority to enact laws addressing corruption, this power has its limits. He clarified that while federal agencies, including the EFCC and the police, are permitted to investigate offences in the state, the actual prosecution must be managed by the state Attorney General. He emphasized that any prosecutions carried out by these federal agencies occur under the supervision of the state Attorney General.

Pedro dismissed speculation that Lagos State’s stance was influenced by political considerations, especially given that the current President is from Lagos. He asserted that the decision was based on legal principles rather than politics.

With the Supreme Court’s decision still pending, Pedro expressed hope for a swift resolution that would allow the state's anti-corruption agency to operate fully. Meanwhile, he emphasized that Lagos State maintains a cooperative relationship with the EFCC, ensuring that state-related prosecutions align with the state’s interests.

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