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No governor has right to remove LG chairman — AGF Fagbemi
While giving an update on justice sector reforms during a citizen engagement program in Abuja, the AGF made this announcement, pointing out that a state governor cannot remove a local government official or chairman from office.
Following the State House of Assembly’s two-month suspension of the chairmen and vice-chairmen of Edo State’s eighteen local government councils, Fagbemi made his statement.
Following a petition from the state governor, Monday Okpebholo, to the House regarding the chairmen’s refusal to provide the state government with the financial records of their local governments, a motion was made by Isibor Adeh, the member representing Esan North East 1, and seconded by Mr. Donald Okogbe, the member representing Akoko-Edo 2. This action led to the suspension of the council chairmen and their deputies.
Described as gross misconduct and acts of insubordination, Okpebholo asked the House to investigate the situation in the letter.
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.”
The removal of a local government official or chairman has become the prerogative of the local government through its legislative arms since the Supreme Court’s July 11, 2024, ruling on local government autonomy, according to the Federation’s Chief Law Officer.
The Federal Government’s commitment to maintaining the rule of law, guaranteeing fair access to justice, and creating a just system that is impartial, open, and sensitive to the needs of all citizens was previously reaffirmed by Fagbemi.
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.
He pointed out that in order to expedite the administration of justice, the Ministry has constructed and equipped courts in Lagos State’s Kirikiri Prison and set up a Virtual Court System to expedite trials and relieve pressure on detention facilities.
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.
