In a landmark decision on March 10, 2025, the Supreme Court of Nigeria granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) the authority to investigate Dr. Peter Odili’s tenure as governor of Rivers State. The court dismissed appeals from both the Attorney General of Rivers State and the Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly, who had attempted to block the investigation.
The Supreme Court’s decision clears the way for the EFCC to look into Dr. Odili’s administration, which lasted from 1999 to 2007. This ruling ends a long legal battle that began in 2007 when Odili received a court order preventing the EFCC from investigating his governorship. This order had protected him from scrutiny for nearly 20 years.
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In 2018, the Court of Appeal allowed the EFCC to challenge the earlier decision, leading to the appeals by the Attorney General and the Speaker to the Supreme Court.
During the March 10 hearing, Justice John Okoro questioned the validity of their appeal, stating it was inappropriate for the Supreme Court. He advised them to address the issues at the Court of Appeal before returning to the Supreme Court.
Following this guidance, the Attorney General’s lawyer chose to withdraw the appeal, which the EFCC did not oppose. Justice Okoro then dismissed the appeal, noting, “The appeal is dismissed, having been withdrawn without any objection.”
A similar appeal from the Speaker of the House of Assembly was dismissed for the same reason. This ruling marks a major step forward for the EFCC in its efforts to investigate potential corruption during Odili’s governorship.
