The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, says governors lacked the authority to suspend or remove local government chairmen from office.
Fagbemi made the declaration on Thursday in Abuja, while responding to questions from journalists regarding Edo State’s Governor Monday Okpebholo recently suspending the chairmen of the 18 local government councils.
Okpebholo reportedly suspended the local government chairmen in the state for insubordination.
Fagbemi spoke at the occasion, a citizens engagement on the Justice Sector Reforms under the AGF.
While responding to a question on the Edo LGA issue, the Minister said he might not have the details surrounding the suspension, but maintained that under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the law, no Governor had the powers to remove elected LG chairmen and their councillors.
He said: “I am aware that since July 11, when the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment, local government administration has taken a new turn, different from the old order.
“At any rate, we are still studying the situation but before final reaction, it must be stated categorically and emphatically that for now, local government chairmen can only be removed through the legislative arm of the local government itself and not the State House of Assembly.”
Governor Okpebholo had Tuesday suspended the council chairmen and their deputies in the state over alleged acts of insubordination and misconduct after the purported approval of the State House of Assembly.
According to the new Governor, the refusal of the LG officials to submit their financial accounts as demanded by him amounted to acts of gross misconduct, hence the need for their suspension.
