Court Backs ICPC, Dismisses Lawmakers’ Bid to Block Probe

Court Backs ICPC, Dismisses Lawmakers’ Bid to Block Probe

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State, has dismissed two separate suits seeking to restrain the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) from investigating two former members of the Abia State House of Assembly.

The former lawmakers, Hon. Kalu Chikwendu and Hon. Apugo Chukwudi J., had approached the court to stop the Commission from inviting them over a petition concerning their activities while in office.

The suits, marked FHC/UM/CS/108/2025 and FHC/UM/CS/109/2025, challenged the legality of Section 28 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The plaintiffs argued that the provision, under which they were invited by the Commission, was inconsistent with Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which deal with personal liberty and fair hearing.

However, in its judgment, the court upheld the powers of the ICPC to investigate corruption-related offences. It ruled that Section 28 of the Act is valid and not inconsistent with the constitutional provisions cited by the plaintiffs.

The court further held that the actions filed by the former lawmakers amounted to an attempt to use the judicial process to shield themselves from lawful investigation.

All the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs were refused. The court noted that granting such requests would amount to providing judicial cover against the lawful exercise of the Commission’s statutory functions.

The court also found that the suits were initiated mala fide and awarded costs of ₦500,000 against each of the plaintiffs.

With the dismissal of the suits, the Commission is now cleared to proceed with its investigation of the former lawmakers.

The development was disclosed in a statement signed on Friday by the ICPC Spokesperson, Okor Odey.