ABUJA – Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has condemned the illegal dissolution and takeover of local government administration by state governors, calling it a treasonable offence.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Fagbemi made the statement on Wednesday during the opening ceremony of a Nigeria Bar Association event in Abuja, where he was represented by Tijani Gazali, Director of Civil Appeals in the Ministry of Justice. He highlighted that despite the Supreme Court ruling and constitutional safeguards against governor interference with local councils, some governors and state assemblies continue to dissolve elected local government councils without adhering to constitutional provisions.
The AGF also criticized state Attorneys General and Commissioners for Justice for failing to provide legal advice to their governors regarding the dissolution of local governments. He called for strict penalties against any governor who continues such illegal actions.
The comment comes amid ongoing disputes between state governors and local government chairmen. For instance, in December, the Edo State House of Assembly suspended all 18 local government chairmen and vice chairmen in the state for two months, placing legislative leaders in charge of the councils. The suspension followed a petition from Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo regarding the chairmen’s refusal to submit financial records to the state government.
Fagbemi strongly objected to the suspension, stating that only the legislative arm of local governments has the authority to remove or suspend chairmen, and that such actions must follow due legal process. He emphasized that state assemblies do not have the power to remove local government chairpersons.
