BY JOHN IBRAHIM, Abuja
ABUJA – The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has deemed the suspension of the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Edo State as illegal and unconstitutional.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the AGF emphasized that the authority to remove or suspend any elected local government official rests solely with the Councilors of the respective LGAs.
His statement is grounded in the Supreme Court’s ruling on July 11, which affirmed the autonomy of all 774 LGAs across the country. “Under the current legal framework, the Governor does not have the right to remove any local government chairman,” Fagbemi asserted. “If I was unsure before, the Supreme Court’s decision on July 11, 2024, clarified that the removal of any local government chairman or official is strictly the prerogative of that local government, exercised through their legislative body.”
The AGF noted that his initial hesitance to comment on the situation stemmed from a desire to understand the reasons behind the reported suspension of the LGA officials in Edo State.
It is important to note that the Edo State House of Assembly suspended the chairmen and vice chairmen for two months, citing allegations of gross misconduct and insubordination. The Assembly instructed the council leaders to hand over their responsibilities to the legislative heads of their respective local governments. This action followed a letter from Governor Monday Okpebholo, who accused the council officials of failing to submit their financial reports from September 23, 2022, to the present, as mandated.
In response, the suspended LGA officials have rejected the suspension and vowed to remain in office until the end of their tenure in 2026.
