Graft: ICPC has power to investigate any person – Court

By Innocent Anaba
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday,
affirmed the powers of the Independent Corrupt
Practices Commission, ICPC, to investigate
allegations of corrupt practices made against
any person or authority in Nigeria, even if the
allegations arose in civil disputes.
Trial judge, Justice Rilwan Aikawa handed down
the decision in his ruling when he dismissed a
suit by seven persons against the Commission
and the Attorney General of the Federation
challenging their invitation by ICPC during the
investigation of a matter involving them and one
of Nigeria’s notable legal practitioners.
In the suit between Chief Waheed Eletu, S.B.
Joseph, SAN, A. A. Agbojuaje, Mr Ashimi and 4
others vs ICPC and Attorney General of the
Federation, filed by Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa, the
claimants, four members of the Eletu Family of
Lagos, two lawyers and a surveyor had sued to
challenge their invitation, the freezing of bank
accounts and investigation by ICPC over an
alleged dispute with Chief Afe Babalola, SAN on
payment of professional fees of $10million in
respect of his legal services which led to the
recovery of a vast expanse of land for the Eletu
family in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State at the
Supreme Court.