Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has announced the suspension of the state’s Attorney General, Bemsen Mnyim.
Governor Alia, who announced the suspension of the Attorney General on Wednesday at a press conference in Makurdi, the state capital, said Mnyim was suspended for joining Kogi State and 15 other states challenging the legitimacy and legality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The governor said that he never gave the Attorney General permission to join the state in the case, noting that Mnyim acted on his own, stressing that he is fighting corruption in the state and cannot turn around and challenge the anti-corruption agency.
“No matter how pressing or urgent the issue is, one must resort to due consultations with me or appropriately brief me and seek my permission before acting, especially in a sensitive matter such as this,” Alia said.
“My administration is holding accountable those who embezzled money and drained our state dry. The EFCC and ICPC are assisting us in this effort.
“How can I now turn around and begin to challenge these watchdogs? I gave no permission for him to enter an appearance for the state.
“Because he acted on his own, I hereby suspend him indefinitely pending a satisfactory explanation of his actions.”
SaharaReporters on Tuesday reported that the Supreme Court reserved judgment in the suit filed by 16 state governments challenging the constitutionality of the laws establishing the EFCC.
Sixteen states had filed consolidated suits challenging the powers of the EFCC, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and any other similar agency of the Federal Government.
Supreme Court Reserves Ruling In Governors’ Suit Challenging EFCC’s Establishment
The plaintiffs in the consolidated case, marked: SC/CV/178/2023, are Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Enugu, Edo, Kogi and Kebbi. Others are Katsina, Jigawa, Nassarawa, Niger, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Plateau and Sokoto.
The suit was originally filed by the Kogi State Government through its Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.