The Oyo State Government said its decision to approach the Federal High Court for clarification on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) demand for copies of all contracts and details of transactions with contractors between 2021 and 2025 is not an attempt to forestall investigation because neither the state government nor Governor Seyi Makinde has anything to hide.
The state government said this in a release signed by Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser on Media to the Oyo State Governor, and made available to REPORTERS AT LARGE on Thursday.
Why the Oyo State Government Fought Federal Overreach in Court
State officials insisted that seeking judicial intervention was a constitutional duty designed to protect public administration from arbitrary federal interference.
Opposition figures in the All Progressives Congress claimed Governor Seyi Makinde was attempting to block federal oversight. However, state representatives maintained that submitting to open-ended demands without clear cause establishes a dangerous administrative precedent for local governance across Nigeria.
“Resorting to the courts is not an admission of guilt but a constitutional right guaranteed under Nigerian law. The judiciary exists to interpret the scope of institutional powers and protect against overreach,” Dr Olanrewaju stated.
Olanrewaju added that state account books will be made available whenever a proper and lawful request tied to specific offences is presented.
The statement further stated that
“Governor Makinde’s administration has managed state finances with prudence, which is why it has successfully constructed more roads, rehabilitated more primary healthcare centres, increased access to qualitative education, employed more civil servants, paid salaries and pensions regularly, empowered more citizens, and built a business-friendly environment unmatched by any administration since 1999. The facts speak for themselves.”
Preventing Arbitrary Inquiries in Public Administration
“Therefore, seeking judicial interpretation of the EFCC’s powers is neither cowardice nor an act of fear. Governor Makinde and the Oyo State Government are not afraid of the EFCC or any other federal agency. The state’s account books will be made available whenever a proper and lawful request is made.
“The APC’s claim that Governor Makinde’s decision to seek judicial intervention amounts to avoiding investigation is both misleading and legally unfounded. Resorting to the courts is not an admission of guilt but a constitutional right guaranteed under Nigerian law. The judiciary exists to interpret the scope of institutional powers and protect against overreach.”
Legal Action between Oyo Govt and EFCC
The Oyo State government challenged the EFCC in court to halt an unlawful probe into state finances, officials confirmed.
Legal action began after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) demanded five years of private contractor records without disclosing specific criminal allegations. State administrators turned to the judiciary when investigators refused to identify the particular companies or transactions under scrutiny.
The dispute followed a letter sent on 2 June 2025 by the EFCC to the Oyo State Accountant General. The agency demanded full transaction details and copies of all contracts awarded between 2021 and 2025.
The court acknowledged the EFCC’s statutory powers to investigate financial crimes but ruled that the Commission’s demand was speculative and amounted to a fishing expedition.
Justice Nkeonye Maha ruled in favour of the state, setting aside the EFCC demand and declaring that statutory investigations must be grounded in reasonable, specific allegations under Section 38 of the EFCC Act.
