A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan has barred the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from proceeding with its planned investigation into the finances of the Oyo State Government, describing the exercise as speculative and a “fishing expedition.”
Delivering judgment on Wednesday in Suit No. FHC/IB/CS/61/2025, Justice Nkeonye Maha held that while the EFCC has the statutory authority to investigate financial crimes, such powers must be exercised within the confines of the Constitution and the rule of law.
The judge ruled that the anti-graft agency’s request, contained in its June 2, 2025 letter to the Oyo State Accountant-General, amounted to a speculative probe because it was not linked to any specific allegation or identified suspect.
Justice Maha further held that the constitutional right of the Oyo State Government to fair hearing could not be violated under the guise of investigation, stressing that the EFCC’s powers do not extend to embarking on indiscriminate or roving inquiries.
The Oyo State Government had approached the court after the EFCC demanded copies of all contracts awarded by the state and details of payments made to contractors from 2021 to June 2025.
The state, through its Attorney-General, Barrister Abiodun Aikomo, argued that the request was oppressive, unreasonable and excessively broad, noting that it had asked the EFCC to identify the specific contractors or transactions under investigation to enable it provide relevant documents. The government said the commission failed to respond before it instituted the suit.
However, counsel to the EFCC, I.G. Ojibor, argued that Section 38 of the EFCC Act empowers the commission to request information from any individual, authority or organisation without obstruction, insisting that the agency acted within the law.
But Justice Maha disagreed, setting aside the EFCC’s letter and declaring that requests for information must be tied to identifiable allegations or offences under the EFCC Act.
The court held that the anti-graft agency could not rely on its investigative powers to conduct speculative investigations or blanket searches into government finances without a lawful basis.
