A Federal High Court in Ibadan has barred the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from proceeding with its planned probe into the finances of the Oyo State Government, ruling that the commission’s request amounted to a speculative exercise.
Justice Nkeonye Maha delivered the judgment on Wednesday in suit FHC/IB/CS/61/2025, filed by the Oyo State Government. While affirming that the EFCC has the legal authority to investigate financial crimes, the judge held that such powers must be exercised within the limits of the Constitution and the rule of law.
The ruling was disclosed in a statement issued by Governor Seyi Makinde’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju.
According to the statement, the court found that the EFCC’s letter dated June 2, 2025, requesting extensive financial records from the state, amounted to a “fishing expedition” because it was not based on any specific allegation.
Justice Maha also ruled that the constitutional right of the plaintiffs to a fair hearing could not be violated under the guise of an investigation.
The Oyo State Government approached the court after the EFCC directed the state’s Accountant General to provide copies of all contracts and details of payments made to contractors from 2021 up to June 2025.
State officials said they asked the commission to identify the contractors or companies under investigation so the relevant documents could be produced, but alleged that the EFCC failed to respond, prompting the lawsuit.
Represented by Attorney General Abiodun Aikomo, the plaintiffs argued that the commission’s request was too broad, oppressive and unreasonable, considering the volume of government contracts executed during the period. They maintained that the EFCC could only investigate specific allegations backed by evidence and not conduct indiscriminate inquiries.
The EFCC, through its counsel I.G. Ojibor, argued that Section 38 of the EFCC Act empowers the commission to demand information from any individual, institution or government body without obstruction, insisting that the law supported its request.
However, Justice Maha ruled in favour of the Oyo State Government, nullified the EFCC’s June 2 letter and held that any future request for information must be reasonable and linked to identifiable allegations. The court further clarified that Section 38 of the EFCC Act does not authorise speculative or blanket investigations.
