The Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia has upheld the powers of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate two former members of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Kalu Chikwendu and Hon. Chukwudi J. Apugo.
In a judgment delivered on Friday, the court rejected constitutional challenges brought by the former lawmakers, who had sought to restrain the Commission from inviting them for questioning over a petition concerning their activities while in office.
Legal Challenge Dismissed
Chikwendu, a former Speaker of the House, and Apugo had in suits marked FHC/UM/CS/108/2025 and FHC/UM/CS/109/2025 questioned the validity of Section 28 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. They argued that the provision was inconsistent with Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee personal liberty and fair hearing.
However, the court held that the ICPC possesses clear statutory powers to investigate corruption-related offences and declared that Section 28 is not inconsistent with the constitutional provisions cited.
Mala fide Lawsuits
The court observed that the actions instituted by the former lawmakers amounted to an attempt to use judicial proceedings as a shield against lawful investigation. Granting the reliefs sought would have provided judicial cover for evading the Commission’s statutory mandate.
All reliefs sought by the plaintiffs were refused, with the court finding the suits to have been initiated mala fide. Costs of ₦500,000 were awarded against each plaintiff.
ICPC Hails Ruling
In a statement, ICPC Spokesperson J. Okor Odey described the ruling as a significant affirmation of the Commission’s constitutional and statutory mandate to combat corruption, reinforcing the legal foundation of its investigative powers.
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