The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on Thursday stated that a state governor has no right to remove a democratically elected local government chairman.
The AGF, who made this declaration in Abuja while providing an update on justice sector reforms during a citizen engagement program, noted that a state governor has no power to remove a local government chairman or official from office.
Fagbemi’s statement followed the suspension of the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the 18 local government councils in Edo State for two months by the State House of Assembly.
The suspension of the council chairmen and their deputies resulted from a motion moved by the member representing Esan North East 1, Isibor Adeh, and seconded by the member representing Akoko-Edo 2, Mr. Donald Okogbe, after a petition from the state governor, Monday Okpebholo, to the House over the refusal of the chairmen to submit financial records of their local governments to the state government.
In the letter, Okpebholo, who described their actions as acts of insubordination and gross misconduct, requested the House to look into the matter.
Responding to a question on the issue, the AGF told newsmen, “One thing I know, and I can say without any fear, is that under this dispensation, no governor has the right to remove any local government chairman.”
According to the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, since the July 11, 2024, judgment of the Supreme Court on local government autonomy, the removal of a local government chairman or official has become the prerogative of that local government through their legislative arms.
Earlier, Fagbemi reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, ensuring equitable access to justice, and building a justice system that is fair, transparent, and responsive to the needs of all citizens.
He emphasized that all hands must be on deck in fostering a justice sector that inspires confidence and delivers on its mandate to serve the people.
To facilitate the speedy dispensation of justice, he noted that the Ministry has built and furnished courts in Kirikiri Prison in Lagos State and installed a Virtual Court System to fast-track trials and decongest custodial centers.
Fagbemi disclosed that his ministry has developed plea-bargaining guidelines for federal prosecutors. These guidelines provide a comprehensive framework to guide plea-bargaining practices, ensuring standardization, fairness, and transparency in the process.
The AGF highlighted that the event underscores the Federal Ministry of Justice’s unwavering commitment to fostering transparency, inclusivity, and accountability in the administration of justice in Nigeria.
He said the justice sector has made remarkable progress in recent years, including the development and adoption of the National Policy on Justice, the National Policy on Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (2024), and the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Other areas of progress include plea-bargaining guidelines, the facilitation of speedy justice dispensation, the Justice Information Management System (JIMS), Child Justice Reform, Justice Sector Synergy and Collaboration Building, and the ongoing audit of correctional centers.
Earlier in her address, the Director of Information and Public Relations in the Ministry, Mrs. Modupe Ogundoro, stated that the objective of the engagement session is to update citizens on the milestones achieved by the Federal Ministry of Justice in the outgoing year, receive feedback on justice sector reforms, provide a platform for citizen engagement with the Ministry and its partners, and identify areas for improvement and future reforms.
“At the end of this engagement, it is expected that it will increase awareness and understanding of the justice sector reforms, improve citizen engagement and participation in the justice sector, identify areas for improvement and future reforms, and strengthen partnerships between the Ministry, its partners, and citizens,” she said.
