Court Allows ICPC to Prosecute Two Former Lawmakers

On a recent ruling, the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State, dismissed a suit filed by two former members of the Abia State House of Assembly, which sought to restrain the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) from investigating them for alleged corrupt practices. The court held that the ICPC possesses the statutory authority to investigate offenses related to corruption as outlined in Section 28 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of 2000.

The plaintiffs contended that the commission's invitation was inconsistent with Sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). However, the court found their action to be an attempt to misuse the judicial process to evade legal scrutiny.

Consequently, the court awarded costs of 500,000 against the plaintiffs and affirmed the ICPC's right to proceed with its investigation.