Three States of Anambra, Adamawa and Ebonyi have withdrawn from the suit challenging the establishment of the Economic and and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, just as the Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the suit.

The suit which was originally filed by the Kogi State Government through its Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, had 15 other states joining as co-plaintiffs.

But during the hearing on Tuesday, Attorneys General of Anambra, Adamawa and Ebonyi announced their withdrawal from the matter, which was granted by the panel.

A seven-member panel of justices presided over by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, on Tuesday reserved the matter after the lawyers in the matter argued their applications.

The states that joined in the suit marked: SC/CV/178/2023 include Ondo, Edo, Oyo, Ogun, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Enugu, Benue, Anambra, Plateau, Cross-River and Niger.

Ogun State government has dismissed its involvement in the case saying it is only contending the financial guideline of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU)’s, which it said unfairly limits the operations of states and local governments in the country.

The Ogun State government issued the rebuttal in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade.

Meanwhile, the Katsina and Ekiti state governments have gifted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) some property in their respective states to set up its offices.

The chairman of the anti-graft agency, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this at Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, in the ongoing National Cybercrimes Summit.

The summit was organised with the support of the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme of the International IDEA.

While welcoming the dignitaries to the summit, Olukoyede said the anti-graft agency had realised that tackling cybercrime in the country could not be left alone for the agency.

He said the agency under his leadership in the last one year had liaised with the state governments, traditional rulers, religious institutions, youth groups, civil society organisations, among others in order to reduce the menace to the barest minimum.

“I want to appreciate everyone here present for this large turnout at this summit. Let me use this medium to appreciate the governor of Katsina State, Umaru Dikko Radda. He has given us a property in his state to set up an office.

“But like you all know, I’m from Ekiti, so, I told the governor that I want an office in my State and he graciously gave us a property to use as an office. We thank them,” Olukoyede told the gathering.