Anambra Lawmakers Pass Bill Establishing State Anti-Corruption Commission to Tackle Financial Crimes

The Anambra State House of Assembly has passed into law a bill establishing the Anambra State Public Complaints, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption Commission, a new agency mandated to investigate corruption and financial crimes involving state government finances and assets.

The bill was passed on Thursday following a resolution adopted during plenary, after lawmakers considered and approved amendments made at the Committee of the Whole stage. The passage marks a significant step in the state’s institutional framework for tackling corruption and addressing public grievances related to financial misconduct.

The motion for the third reading of the bill was moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Ikenna Ofodeme, and seconded by the Deputy Minority Leader, Nobel Igwe. The bill was subsequently put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Somtochukwu Udeze, and was unanimously approved by members of the assembly.

Speaking after the passage, Udeze commended the joint committee responsible for fine-tuning the bill, describing their work as diligent and thorough. He announced that the law would officially take effect on February 17, 2025, giving the state government time to make necessary preparations for the operationalisation of the new commission.

According to the Speaker, the newly established commission will have broad powers to investigate financial crimes and corruption-related cases involving the finances and assets of the Anambra State Government. The agency will also have the authority to take over such investigations from any other agency or authority operating within the state, consolidating anti-corruption efforts under a single body.

“The commission is also mandated to submit regular progress reports to both the Office of the Governor and the Anambra State House of Assembly,” Udeze said during the plenary session.

He further explained that the law includes provisions to protect residents and indigenes of the state from potential injustice arising from administrative actions taken under the new legislation. The commission, he noted, will be required to exercise special care in investigating any administrative act that appears to be contrary to established laws and regulations.

The establishment of the commission comes amid growing calls across Nigerian states for stronger anti-corruption institutions at the subnational level. While federal agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission have been active in investigating financial crimes, many state governments have opted to create their own agencies to address localised corruption and improve transparency in public administration.

Several states, including Lagos, Kano, Edo, and Ekiti, have in recent years established similar anti-corruption bodies with varying degrees of success. The Lagos State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, established in 2017, has been one of the most active, securing multiple convictions and recovering millions of naira in misappropriated funds. Similarly, the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, created in 2008, has prosecuted several high-profile cases involving public officials.

However, concerns have been raised about the independence and effectiveness of state-level anti-corruption agencies, particularly where they are perceived to be subject to political influence or lack adequate funding and institutional capacity. Civil society organisations have often emphasised the need for such agencies to operate with transparency, autonomy, and sufficient legal backing to ensure they can investigate and prosecute cases without interference.

The Anambra law appears to address some of these concerns by mandating regular reporting to both the executive and legislative arms of government, a mechanism that could enhance accountability. The requirement for the commission to investigate administrative actions that violate established laws also suggests a broader mandate beyond financial crimes, potentially covering issues of maladministration and abuse of office.

It remains unclear, however, what specific offences will fall under the commission’s jurisdiction, how the commission will be funded, or who will head the agency. These details are typically outlined in the operational framework and subsidiary regulations that accompany such legislation. The law is also expected to define the composition of the commission, qualifications for appointment, tenure of office, and the relationship between the new body and existing federal anti-corruption agencies.

Legal analysts have pointed out that the concurrent jurisdiction of state and federal anti-corruption agencies could lead to conflicts or duplication of efforts, particularly in cases involving both state and federal funds. The 1999 Constitution, as amended, grants the National Assembly legislative competence over matters related to the EFCC and ICPC, but does not prohibit states from establishing their own anti-corruption agencies to address state-specific issues.

The passage of the bill also comes at a time when Anambra State has been grappling with various governance challenges, including concerns over transparency in public procurement, management of internally generated revenue, and the administration of state-owned enterprises. The new commission is expected to play a role in addressing these issues and restoring public confidence in government institutions.