Yenagoa—A Federal High Court sitting in Bayelsa State, yesterday adjourned to  October 25, 2010 for judgment on whether the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has the power investigate the account of Bayelsa State government.

Bayelsa State government had through its Attorney General, Mr. George Anthony Ikoli, SAN,  dragged the EFCC to the court, seeking to restrain the anti-graft agency from probing the state finances.

Defendants in the suit are Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and the Clerk of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.  The EFCC agents had in April 2010, arrested four principal officers of Bayelsa State government over alleged financial frauds but were later grated bail.

Trial judge in the matter is  Justice R. Aikawa. Parties adopted their  written addresses, yesterday.

Counsel to  the plaintiff, Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN,  who adopted his written address,  added that he wanted to know whether the EFCC is authorised by law to probe the accounts of a state government, arguing that it was only the ICPC Act that allows for the probe of a state and agencies  account and prosecution of  persons by the said Act.

He said, “If the EFCC is allowed to carry on, it will violate section 120 to 129 of the 1999 Nigerian constitution which vests state Houses of Assembly with the power to investigate government finances.”

Ccounsel to EFCC,  while adopting his written address, argued that the anti-graft agency has powers to investigate all financial crimes including state governments.