Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, yesterday, suspended his Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Bemsen Mnyim. The commissioner was suspended for joining the suit challenging the legality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) without informing his principal.
The Supreme Court had on Tuesday reserved judgment on the suit filed by 19 states of the federation. However, three of the 19 states challenging the constitutionality of the laws that established the EFCC reportedly withdrew from the suit. The three Anambra (9th plaintiff), Adamawa (16th plaintiff) and Ebonyi (18th plaintiff) separately submitted applications for withdrawal before the court.
The Attorney General of Anambra, Prof Sylvia Ifemeje, informed the court that she was withdrawing from the suit, having filed a motion for withdrawal on October 20.
Her Ebonyi counterpart, Ikenna Nwidagu, stated, “My Lord, I filed a notice of withdrawal dated October 21. My Lords, we pray that this honourable court strikes out the name of the 18th plaintiff.”
However, Alia, who was taken aback that the state joined other states to challenge the legality of the anti-corruption agency, reportedly ordered the suspension of the attorney general.
Confirming the suspension, the governor’s spokesperson, Kula Tersoo, said, “It is true. His Excellency today suspended the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order for joining the suit challenging the legality of EFCC without informing the governor.
“The suspension was necessitated by Mnyim’s ultra vires decision to join the state in a suit challenging the legality of anti-graft agencies, namely EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)”. According to the Catholic priest-turned-politician, no appointee is permitted to act unilaterally.
“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 such a sensitive matter as this.
“My administration is holding accountable those who embezzled money and drained our state. The EFCC and ICPC are assisting us in this effort.”
“How can I now turn around and begin to challenge these watchdogs? I did not permit 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,” the statement reads.