Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself - Politics (3) - Nairaland
Nairaland Forum › Nairaland General › Politics › Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself (12732 Views)
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by Barrywilly(m): 9:12pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
Tell me your alternative to the Supreme Court? You do not have any option Kobojunkie: |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by Kobojunkie: 9:14pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
Barrywilly:That Nigerians are left with no alternative is no reason why Nigerians should put their trust in the Supreme Court. Rather the trust should be in the Supreme Law of the land— the Constitution of Nigeria —not in the offices defined by the Law. ![]() |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by power44t: 9:38pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
Afonja44:If he aided an Homosexual to avoid jail time how is that your concern Ode. Idiot that have not eaten since morning. instead of you to go look for food you are here talking about who his gay or not. BABANGBALI:maybe your papa should first go and make a name for himself first. Ode Wealthoptulent:They have stolen your future and making it legal to do so and what mugu like you can do is to only be concern with a guy who is confused about the sex he belongs and fools like you are ready to mortgage their future just to teach the confused gay a lesson. you lots are a huge joke i swear. Enice:You are right i think that is the next step to take. |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by ceevictor(m): 9:52pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
Kobojunkie:If u don't know what to say keep quiet.... How did the EFFC came about? Have you checked.... Its an assignment for you... Go and read the case instituted against the EFFC by the 16 states Attorney generals... At the supreme court Illiteracy is a big disease.... Let me Educate you a bit, EFFC be came an organisation in Nigeria in early 2000s when FMR president Obasanjo was seeking for debt forgiveness for Nigeria from Paris club and co, part of the requirements was that Nigeria will join an international anti graft agency by signing the convention treaty and establish an anti corrupt institution.. So the president Obasanjo then hurriedly did and EFFC was created by an act of the national assembly with out domesticating in the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria which has component federating units of 36 states, which means for an EFFC or Icpc to be fully valid like Nigeria police force ( law enforcement) the act establishing it must pass through 36 states houses of Assembly if not it's has no jurisdiction under an state in Nigeria now, hence it's an illegal organization not know to law... That's what Agbakoba SAN is saying And Falana SAN also hinted by saying that the national assembly should enact a law backing EFFC in the closing latter on the same issues... Question now is ?who shout himself on the leg U can now answer yourself |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by Kobojunkie: 10:00pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
ceevictor:Here's a simple question for you. What international anti-graft agency did Nigeria join and when did Nigeria join it? ![]() |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by ceevictor(m): 10:01pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
Kobojunkie:Hear yourself, did you even read the constitution, do u know what federalism means... Do u think people just wake up and talk... The point here is the jurisdiction of EFFC operation since it's not domesticated in constitution of the federal Republic... Do they have powers to carry out operations within the confines of the law!!! |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by Kobojunkie: 10:04pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
ceevictor:Federalism means absolutely nothing in this case since the Nigerian Police Force(EFCC an arm of it) is not a federalism-based entity, to begin with. 2. The jurisdiction of the EFCC Is that of law enforcement in Nigeria which spans all levels of the nation. This much is made clear in the EFCC Act of 2002 and then the amendment of 2004 ![]() Going around and around in circles is not going to change any of the facts that have already been stated here. ![]() |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by ceevictor(m): 10:09pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
Kobojunkie:UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) that the National Assembly converted into the EFCC Establishment Act and that in enacting this law in 2004, the provisions of Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, were not followed. |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by Kobojunkie: 10:10pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
ceevictor:EFCC was established— became law — in 2002 via the EFCC Act of 2002. Look at the image below to see the difference in dates? ![]()
|
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by ceevictor(m): 10:12pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
[quote author=Kobojunkie post=132490250]Federalism means absolutely nothing in this case since the Nigerian Police Force(EFCC an arm of it) is not a federalism-based entity, to begin with. 2. The jurisdiction of the EFCC Is that of law enforcement in Nigeria which spans all levels of the nation. This much is made clear in the EFCC Act of 2002 and then the amendment of 2004 ![]() |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by ceevictor(m): 10:14pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
Kobojunkie:What is an ACT? in Law |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by ceevictor(m): 10:16pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
[quote author=ceevictor post=132490342][/quote]Now ur getting the argument right, since Nigeria police force (NPF) a law enforcement agency created by the constitution of the federal Republic with jurisdiction over all the federation, EFFC and other law enforcement agencies in the country should also be domesticated in the constitution so it will have validity known to LAW sir, Which is the CONSTITUTION |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by Kobojunkie: 10:17pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
ceevictor:The EFCC Act of 2002 was enacted — signed into Law — in 2002 and the EFCC began operations in April of 2003 , after the appointment of the pioneer Executive Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. . ![]() |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by Kobojunkie: 10:20pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
ceevictor:Wrong! The Nigerian Police Force was instead created by the Police Act which was amended in 2020— Police Act 2020— by the Law makers in Nigeria. The Constitution instead required the existence of a Police Force in the Country. The makeup, and number of arms(agencies that comprise Law enforcement, etc.), of that Police Force, however, was left to the decision of the Lawmakers. The decision of the Lawmakers to create several arms for the Police Force(NPF, EFCC, DSS, ICPC...) is well within that defined by the Supreme Law of the Land. ![]() The United States can be used as an example here. When it comes to Federal Law enforcement, there are at least 80 different agencies — DHS, CIA, FBI, Coast Guard, ICE, Office of the Inspector General....(there are so many of them, and they are all part of Federal Law enforcement. ![]() |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by ceevictor(m): 10:33pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
Kobojunkie:Define act? |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by Kobojunkie: 10:34pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
ceevictor:Why do we need to engage in such useless endeavors abeg? Get Straight to your point instead! ![]() |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by ceevictor(m): 10:35pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
Kobojunkie:ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE Section 214 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution reads: There shall be a Police Force for Nigeria, which shall be known as the Nigeria Police Force, and subject to the provision of this section no other Police Force shall be established for the Federation or any part thereof. |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by ceevictor(m): 10:37pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
Kobojunkie:Which section in the 1999 constitution established EFCC as a law enforcement agency?? |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by Kobojunkie: 10:38pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
ceevictor:So? ![]() |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by Kobojunkie: 10:39pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
ceevictor:The very same section you just quoted from the constitution... Section 214. ![]() |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by ceevictor(m): 10:46pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
Kobojunkie:Quote the content? |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by ceevictor(m): 10:48pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
Kobojunkie:EFFC is not a legal organization known to Nigerian Law |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by Kobojunkie: 10:50pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
ceevictor:How? Show evidence of this claim. ![]() If an agency was created as an arm of the Nigerian Police Force and signed into Law in 2002 by Nigerian Law makers, what makes said agency an illegal organization? ![]() |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by Kobojunkie: 10:51pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
ceevictor:The very same one you quoted earlier which mandates the existence of only one Nigerian Police Force in Nigeria. Why are you struggling with comprehending this? ![]()
|
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by blowjohn(m): 11:01pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
Has he sorted out the case with that LGBT ambassador? He and his son? |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by Cmoke: 11:59pm On Oct 18, 2024 |
So you say below that EFCC is unconstitutional "...centralization of anti-corruption enforcement violates state sovereignty." The foregoing argument is laughable because unlike the USA where most states were truly sovereign prior to the formation of USA, .Nigeria states were NEVER sovereign as they were creations of their master - the federal government! Secondly, how do you reconcile your arguments with the power of the Nigeria Police to operate nationwide? You also lost us when you argued below that since "... several state governments and public officials have raised concerns about the EFCC’s authority, particularly regarding its involvement in state financial matters. The ongoing debate about the legality of the EFCC underscores the need for clarity..." Since when do several armed robbers raising concern about anti robbery laws lead to the conclusion that the laws are unconstitutional? Cmoke By Angela Ochioma Femi Falana’s defense of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in response to Dr. Olisa Agbakoba’s claim about its legality raises several contradictions and shortcomings. While Falana attempts to paint the EFCC as constitutionally valid, his position undermines key principles of federalism and fails to address the agency's perceived overreach. The nature of Falana’s argument also reveals selective use of judicial rulings that gloss over essential nuances, weakening his stance on the EFCC’s legality. One of the key issues with Falana’s argument is his dismissal of federalism concerns. Federalism is a core component of the Nigerian Constitution, which recognizes the autonomy of individual states in governance. Dr. Agbakoba’s critique of the EFCC hinges on this principle, arguing that the centralization of anti-corruption enforcement violates state sovereignty. Falana, however, overlooks this critical point. He defends the EFCC by asserting that the agency is supported by constitutional provisions, such as Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates the state to abolish corrupt practices. But this broad interpretation of the law runs the risk of empowering the EFCC to interfere with state governments, eroding the delicate balance of power between the federal and state levels. Falana's argument also suffers from internal inconsistency. On the one hand, he advocates for the authority of the EFCC to operate nationwide and prosecute corruption at all levels of government. On the other, he professes support for federalism, which emphasizes decentralization and the autonomy of states. This contradictory stance casts doubt on his commitment to the principle of federalism and raises concerns about his selective application of constitutional ideals. The EFCC, while vital in combatting corruption, operates in a manner that raises legitimate questions about federal overreach. Falana's failure to fully acknowledge these concerns undermines his broader argument. Another issue with Falana’s defense is his selective citation of Supreme Court rulings to bolster the EFCC’s legality. He references past cases like **Attorney-General of Ondo State v Attorney-General of the Federation**, where the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of anti-corruption bodies like the ICPC. However, this precedent does not directly translate to the EFCC’s operations, as the ICPC’s mandate and scope differ from the EFCC’s broader and more intrusive powers. The absence of a nuanced discussion on how these rulings apply to the unique challenges posed by the EFCC weakens Falana’s argument. Instead of addressing the specific nature of the EFCC’s overreach into state affairs, Falana uses broad rulings to justify its existence, ignoring the complexities involved in balancing federal powers with state sovereignty. Moreover, Falana's failure to substantiate his claim that no court has ever declared the EFCC unconstitutional highlights a gap in his defense. While it may be true that no legal ruling has annulled the EFCC Act, this does not automatically legitimize the agency's actions, especially in cases where states have pushed back against federal interference. Falana overlooks the fact that several state governments and public officials have raised concerns about the EFCC’s authority, particularly regarding its involvement in state financial matters. The ongoing debate about the legality of the EFCC underscores the need for clarity, and Falana’s simplistic dismissal of these concerns does not help to resolve the issue. Finally, Falana’s call for the National Assembly to amend the Constitution and formally entrench the EFCC and ICPC only further complicates his position. While this move may provide legal backing for the agencies’ existence, it does not address the fundamental issues of federal overreach and accountability. Instead of offering a comprehensive solution, Falana’s proposal risks entrenching an imbalance of power between the federal government and the states, potentially exacerbating tensions between different levels of governance. In conclusion, Femi Falana’s defense of the EFCC is riddled with contradictions and selective reasoning. His argument overlooks the legitimate concerns of federalism, fails to engage with the nuances of judicial rulings, and sidesteps the ongoing debate about the agency's role in state affairs. While the fight against corruption is undoubtedly important, it must not come at the expense of state sovereignty or constitutional balance. Falana’s inconsistent defense does little to resolve these tensions and raises more questions than it answers about the future of anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria. |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by NewDea4: 12:24am On Oct 19, 2024 |
Kobojunkie:You're right, it also includes the ATF, DEA, Marshals Service, etc... |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by IfnobeGod20(m): 5:20am On Oct 19, 2024*. Modified: 5:36am On Oct 19, 2024 |
Salewa97:The only one that bothers you is the name of the writer and not what he wrote there. No nation does their affairs anticlockwise, have headway. A constitutional country need to be constitutional country. Thankfully, the Falana concluded by advising the National Assembly to tinker with the constitution to make EFCC have powers to deal with state affairs but in another length saying delving into state affairs was right on the premise that no court has ever voided their activity. What a big contradiction from a learned Falana. My big advise to you, it should not be every time you play politics with all issue. Some time you need to put on your thinking cap and slow down politics for the sake of nation development. |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by Jestin: 5:50am On Oct 19, 2024 |
K |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by BABANGBALI: 6:25am On Oct 19, 2024 |
power44t:you've been noticed. Now, go and play with your toys. |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by Caseless: 6:59am On Oct 19, 2024 |
Kobojunkie:These are people paid to write in favor of the governors. No matter what, we all know that federalism in the sense they preach it cannot work for us. Certain power should not be given to the states as they're fond of abusing it. They have their judiciary, houses of assembly, SIEC, what have they done with them? Now they want state police and power to have their own anti-graft agency control. Nigeria is a stupid country. We see what the governors are doing, but we want them to have absolute power. |
| Re: Flawed Justifications: Why Falana’s Defense Of The EFCC Contradicts Itself by Iamanoited: 7:32am On Oct 19, 2024 |
"LUCIFER.COM". HE WHO PAYS THE PIPER DICTATES THE TUNES. THE FG IS PAYING THE 36 CONSTITUTIONAL STATES NOW AND THEREFORE MUST DICTATE WHEREWITHAL FOR OUR 36 CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITIES. UNTIL WE RETURN THE USURPED MANDATES OF SELF POLICING, THAT IS SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY; SELF RESOURCING, THAT'S ECONOMIC RESPONSIBILITY; AND SELF ELECTIONEERING POLITICAL AUTONOMIES TO OUR 36 CONSTITUTIONAL STATES AND SCRAP THE EXCLUSIVE LIST OF DECREE24, FALANA IS VERY RIGHT. AGBAKOGBA SHOULD PLEASE STOP HIS PRESENT TROUBLE SHOOTING. ORISA37. |
Nigeria’s Election Badly Flawed, INEC Failed, Says Financial Times Of London • Tinubu’s Background Claim At Chatham House Contradicts Sworn Affidavit To INEC • "We Rescued Kankara Schoolboys" — Military Contradicts Govs On Miyetti Allah • 2 • 3 • 4
Tolulope Arotile: Six Years After, Where Is The Justice? • Breaking News- Photos: Asari Dokubo And MASSOB Leader Hold Private Meeting • Governor Umahi In The Shadow Of Vultures’ Talons. By Emmanuel Onwe

