A bill sponsored by the Ekiti State Government seeking the establishment of its own anti-graft agency, Ekiti Economic Crimes Commission, (EECC) on Wednesday passed a second reading at the state’s House of Assembly.

The state governor, Ayodele Fayose, presented the proposal to the state’s legislative chamber.

Fayose said this is in line with the tenets of a federal system of government, which Nigeria practices.

This comes a day after a federal high court in the state held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lacked powers to investigate finances of a state.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, delivering his verdict had said only the house of assembly and the auditor-general of a state were legally empowered to monitor and investigate the finances of a state.

Writing through his Twitter handle, @GovAyoFayose the governor said, “A bill for the establishment of Ekiti Economic Crimes Commission (EECC) that I sent to the house of assembly was today, sent to the house committee on public accounts and anti-corruption.

“It has passed second reading.

“Nigeria is a federation and we must run it like one.”

If endorsed, the state will be the first to establish it’s own independent body charged with the responsibility of investigating economic crimes in the state.