The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has condemned the suspension of the chairmen and vice-chairmen of local government areas (LGAs) in Edo State by the state’s House of Assembly.
Fagbemi questioned the legality of the suspension, arguing that while the facts of the case remain unclear, it is unlawful for a state assembly to suspend duly elected local government leaders. According to the AGF, the only body with such authority is the legislature at the local government level itself.
The Edo State House of Assembly had, on Tuesday, passed a resolution suspending the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the state’s 18 LGAs for two months, following complaints by Governor Sunday Okpebholo. The governor accused the council leaders of insubordination for allegedly failing to submit their councils’ financial records to him. The suspension also directed the leaders of the legislative arms of the LGAs to assume leadership of their respective councils during this period.
