By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi(SAN), has described the suspension of 18 local government chairmen in Edo State by the state House of Assembly as an “illegality”, triggering reactions from Nigerians.
Fagbemi who didn’t mince words on the position of the law on the matter condemned the development on Thursday stressing that it’s “unconstitutional”
Recall that the Assembly suspended the 18 LG chairmen on Monday over what it termed insubordination to Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The governor had written the Assembly, complaining that the 18 LG chairmen flouted his directive for them to submit the financial statements of their councils.
The Assembly, therefore, slammed two month suspension on the LG chairmen.
Meanwhile, reacting to the move, Fagbemi, who on July secured a Supreme Court judgment, granting autonomy to the 774 LGAs in the country, said a governor has no right to suspend LG chairmen.
Fagbemi said, “One thing that I know and can say without fear is that under the present dispensation, the governor has no right to remove any local government chairman.
“That much I know.If I did not know before, since July 11, 2024, I became aware of it that the removal of any local government chairman or official would be the prerogative of that local government, through their legislative house.”
On Wednesday, the Edo State Governor, Okpebholo, inaugurated a panel to probe the council chairmen. But the LG chairmen have rejected their suspension, describing it as an illegality in the face of LG autonomy.
