Consent and certificate of the DPP in economic offences

Under Section 3 of the Economic and Organized Crime Control Act (EOCCA), jurisdiction over economic crimes is exclusively vested in the High Court, which sits as an economic crimes court, contingent upon the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) granting consent pursuant to Section 26(1) of EOCCA. Subordinate courts lack jurisdiction to try these cases unless the DPP issues both consent for prosecution and a certificate for the transfer of the case to a subordinate court, as stipulated under Sections 12(3) and (4) of EOCCA. The DPP, empowered by Section 26(2) of EOCCA, has authorized Directors, Regional Prosecution Officers, District Prosecution Officers, and Prosecution Attorneys in Charge to exercise his powers under Section 26(1), though their authority is restricted based on the type of offense and the subject matter's value.

The consent and certificate must correspond to the specific offenses with which the accused is charged; any misalignment may void the trial court’s jurisdiction to prosecute the accused. After issuance, the consent and certificate should be duly endorsed, ensuring procedural compliance.