THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) insisted yesterday that it has Constitutional power to prosecute anyone who commits fraud in any part of the country.

The commission’s counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, made the assertion in response to the argument of former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel that the commission has no constitutional power to try him.

Daniel is insisting, among other things, that since the offences he was alleged to have committed were committed in the state, the commission, being an agency of the Federal Government, cannot try him over “state offences”.

EFCC has slammed a 43-count charge against Daniel for his alleged fraudulent practices during his eight-year tenure. These include conversion of state assets and $8million state funds to his personal use and outright stealing.

But when the case came up on Thursday, Daniel, through his lead counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, brought an eight-point application asking the court, presided over by Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje, that all the charges should be quashed on grounds that the commission, being a Federal Government agency has no jurisdiction over the case.