Supreme Court Grants EFCC Permission to Investigate Ex-Rivers Governor Peter Odili

The Supreme Court has ruled that the EFCC can proceed with its investigation into former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili. Read more on the legal battle and implications.

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has rejected the appeals submitted by both the Attorney General and the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, thereby allowing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili’s time in office.

In a significant decision announced on Monday, March 10, 2025, a five-member panel of the supreme court headed by Justice John Okoro affirmed the Court of Appeal’s ruling. This judgment removed an enduring perpetual injunction that had previously protected Odili from examination by the EFCC.

This decision allows the anti-corruption agency to investigate suspected financial misconduct during Odili’s administration, representing a crucial turning point in Nigeria’s battle against corruption.

Odili, who served as the governor of Rivers State between 1999 and 2007, obtained a contentious injunction from the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt in 2007. This legal order prohibited the EFCC from investigating, arresting, or prosecuting him and barred any examination of state finances during his administration.

Since 2008, the EFCC has been striving to overturn the injunction, but for almost two decades, this legal barrier had protected Odili from its investigations.

In 2018, the Court of Appeal allowed the EFCC to contest a decision by the Federal High Court. Nonetheless, both the Attorney General of Rivers State and the Speaker of its House of Assembly filed separate appeals with the Supreme Court in an attempt to overturn this appellate court’s ruling.

In a statement released on Tuesday by Dele Oyewale, the Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC, it was noted that during Monday’s Supreme Court proceedings, Justice Okoro expressed concerns about the appeals. He characterized them as interlocutory in nature and indicated they were not typically heard at this stage by the apex court.

S. A. Somiari, SAN, the lawyer for the litigants, contended that their appeal contested the Court of Appeal’s decision to allow the EFCC to challenge a 2007 injunction. However, Justice Okoro interrupted and remarked, “This is not an appeal we entertain here,” suggesting they revisit the Court of Appeal to resolve this matter before bringing it back to the Supreme Court.

Acknowledging the court’s stance, Somiari filed an application to retract the appeal. The EFCC’s legal team, led by Abubakar Mahmud (SAN), along with Sylvanus Tahir (SAN) and B.O. Obialo, did not object to this withdrawal.

The appeal was subsequently dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Justice Okoro ruled, “The appeal is dismissed as it has been withdrawn without any objection.”

He also mentioned that the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly had filed a similar appeal, which was dismissed for the same reasons.