Court dismisses suit seeking to stop ICPC from probing Bauchi security votes

A Bauchi State High Court has dismissed an application seeking to restrain the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) from investigating the financial activities of the Office of the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government (SSG), particularly regarding the use of security votes.

In suit No. BA/834M/2024, a group under the name “Concern Indigenes of Bauchi State” had asked the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction preventing the ICPC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) from probing alleged financial irregularities in the SSG’s office.

They argued that the agencies had failed to act on numerous complaints and therefore should hand over the matter to the Nigeria Police.

The ICPC, alongside the EFCC, opposed the application, describing it as an attempt to use the court to subvert their statutory mandates.

They further argued that the applicants had not submitted any formal petitions to them and that nothing stopped them from approaching other agencies, including the Police, to investigate the alleged infractions.

Delivering judgment, Justice F.U. Sarki ruled that the ICPC, EFCC, and NFIU have the statutory powers to investigate and prosecute corruption cases, which do not exclude the powers of the Police.

He emphasized that the court lacked the authority to restrain the agencies from performing their lawful duties.

“The application is therefore consequently refused,” the judge declared.

The ruling affirms ICPC’s powers to continue investigating allegations of financial misconduct in Bauchi State’s use of security votes.