Why We Did Not Join Other States’ Case Against EFCC

“So any other agency, that is prosecuting state offences, is only doing it on behalf of the Attorney General, because they are deemed to have the fiat of the Attorney General of the state to prosecute state offences.” Pedro also dismissed suggestions that Lagos’ refusal to join the suit was politically motivated due to President Bola Tinubu’s ties to the state.

He said: “My response to the question as to why Lagos state government is not one of the claimant states that is challenging the EFCC, is that the Lagos state government enacted a law on public complaints and anti-corruption agency to set up the state anti-corruption agency commission to tackle corruption in states.

“In the meantime, we have a very cooperative and collaborative effort with EFCC in Lagos, that even state offences that are being prosecuted are being done on behalf of the state government, on behalf of the state Attorney General.

We hope that the Supreme Court will give us a date very soon and the matter will be resolved.” Regarding the role of the EFCC and other federal agencies, Pedro explained that while they are authorized to investigate corruption cases, prosecution of state-level offenses remains the responsibility of the Attorney General of the respective state.

He said, “The EFCC, police and other agencies can investigate corruption cases, but when it comes to prosecution, it is the Attorney General of the states that have the power over state offences..

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