The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has described the illegal dissolution and takeover of local government administrations by state governors as a treasonable offence.
Fagbemi made this assertion on Wednesday during the opening ceremony of an event organized by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja.
Represented by the Director of Civil Appeals in the Ministry of Justice, Tijani Gazali, the AGF emphasized that despite the clear judgment of the Supreme Court and constitutional provisions prohibiting state governors from interfering in the administration of local government councils, some governors and their respective state assemblies continue to unlawfully dissolve elected councils.
Fagbemi criticized state Attorneys General and Commissioners for Justice for failing to provide proper legal counsel to their governors regarding the implications of such actions.
He called for stringent penalties against any governor who persists in violating the constitutional provisions on local government autonomy.
The interference of state governors in local government administration has been a subject of legal and political controversy in Nigeria.
The Supreme Court has, on multiple occasions, reaffirmed the autonomy of local governments as guaranteed by the constitution.
However, some state governments have continued to exert undue influence, often dissolving elected councils and appointing caretaker committees.
Legal experts and civil society organizations have consistently called for stricter enforcement of the law to protect the independence of local governments.
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Fagbemi’s remarks have reignited debates on the need for federal intervention to uphold the rule of law and prevent further violations by state governments.
The Nigerian Bar Association event, where Fagbemi spoke, serves as a platform for legal professionals to discuss issues affecting governance and the judiciary in Nigeria.
The AGF’s statement is expected to fuel further discussions on the enforcement of legal provisions safeguarding local government administrations.