Court dismisses Akwa Ibom suit challenging EFCC’s investigative powers

The Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has dismissed a suit filed by the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uwemedimo Nwoko, challenging the powers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the state government’s financial activities.

Justice M.A. Onyetenu dismissed the suit on Thursday, October 8, 2026, after upholding a preliminary objection filed by the EFCC’s legal team, led by counsel Joshua Abolarin.

The case originated in 2016 when some indigenes of Akwa Ibom petitioned the EFCC over alleged diversion of state resources from projects intended to promote public welfare and development.

Following the petition, the commission commenced an investigation and invited some government officials for questioning. However, the officials approached the Akwa Ibom State High Court in Ikot Ekpene through the state Attorney-General to challenge the commission’s actions.

While the case was pending before the state court, Nwoko instituted another suit at the Federal High Court, challenging the EFCC’s authority to investigate the state government’s financial activities. The suit also joined other federal government agencies.

The Attorney-General subsequently obtained an interim restraining order on July 6, 2016, from the late Justice F.O. Riman, restraining the EFCC and other federal agencies pending the determination of the case. An appeal against the order was unsuccessful, as the Court of Appeal directed the parties to return to the trial court and await the determination of the substantive suit.

In its preliminary objection, the EFCC argued that the federal suit was incompetent because a similar case involving the same issues was already pending before the Akwa Ibom State High Court in Ikot Ekpene when the federal action was instituted.

Upholding the objection, Justice Onyetenu dismissed the suit in its entirety.