In a landmark ruling on March 10, 2025, Nigeria’s Supreme Court has removed the legal shield that prevented the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating the administration of Dr. Peter Odili, who governed Rivers State from 1999 to 2007.

A five-justice panel led by Justice John Okoro dismissed appeals filed by the Rivers State Attorney General and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, ending nearly two decades of legal protection that blocked scrutiny of Odili’s tenure.

The case dates back to 2007, when Odili, shortly after leaving office, obtained a perpetual injunction from the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, barring the EFCC from:

• Probing his tenure,
• Investigating Rivers State’s finances under his administration, and
• Taking any legal action against him.

Despite repeated challenges by the EFCC, the injunction remained intact for years. In 2018, the Court of Appeal granted the anti-corruption agency leave to appeal the 2007 ruling. This prompted Rivers State authorities to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court, filing separate appeals—SC/CV/318/2018 and SC/CV/447/2018—to reinstate the injunction.

At Monday’s hearing, Justice Okoro questioned the interlocutory nature of the appeals, meaning they addressed a preliminary issue rather than the substantive case. “This is not the type of appeal we hear here,” he remarked, directing the appellants to first resolve the case at the Court of Appeal.

Following this, the appellants’ counsel, S. A. Somiari, SAN, withdrew the appeals, and the EFCC’s legal team, led by Abubakar Mahmud, SAN, raised no objections. The Supreme Court dismissed both appeals, clearing the way for the EFCC to proceed with its investigation.

This ruling is a major victory for the EFCC, removing a legal roadblock that had frustrated its attempts to probe allegations of financial mismanagement under Odili’s administration. As a former governor with strong political influence, Odili had long been considered untouchable.

With this decision, the anti-graft agency can now pursue its case, potentially reshaping the narrative around one of Nigeria’s most high-profile political figures. The ruling signals the end of Odili’s legal immunity—and the beginning of a new chapter under the EFCC’s scrutiny.