Court Stops EFCC Probe of Oyo Finances, Calls Inquiry Speculative

A Federal High Court in Ibadan has restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from proceeding with its proposed investigation into the finances of the Oyo State Government.

Justice Nkeonye Maha held that the inquiry, as framed in the EFCC’s June 2, 2025 letter to the state Accountant-General, was speculative and amounted to a fishing expedition.

Premium Times and Vanguard reported that the court said the commission has powers to investigate financial crimes, but those powers must be exercised within constitutional limits and on the basis of identifiable allegations.

The letter had sought extensive records on contracts, transactions and payments to contractors from 2021. Oyo State said it asked the EFCC to identify the contractors or companies under investigation, but did not receive a response before approaching the court.

The ruling set aside the request and said any future demand for information must be reasonable and connected to specific allegations of wrongdoing.

The judgment does not remove the EFCC’s investigative mandate. It addresses the scope of the particular request challenged by the Oyo State Government, its Attorney-General and its Accountant-General.

Sources: Premium Times, Vanguard