AGF Fagbemi Faults Okpebholo Over Suspension of Edo LG Chairmen
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has criticized the suspension of local government chairmen in Edo State by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The 18 local government chairmen and their vice-chairmen were suspended on December 17 by the Edo State House of Assembly at the governor’s request. Governor Okpebholo had accused the chairmen and their deputies of insubordination and misconduct, claiming they failed to submit their financial statements to him.
In his response, Fagbemi stated that only the Legislative Arm of local governments has the authority to remove or suspend council chairmen. He emphasized that, under the current legal framework, local government chairmen cannot be arbitrarily removed or suspended by any governor without following due process.
“I am aware that since the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment on July 11, local government administration has undergone a significant change, which differs from the previous order.
“At this point, we are still studying the situation, but it must be clearly stated that, for now, local government chairmen can only be removed by the legislative arm of the local government itself, not by the State House of Assembly,” Fagbemi stated.
