The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has described the suspension of the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the 18 Local Government Areas in Edo State as illegal and unconstitutional.
Fagbemi said this on Thursday in Abuja during a public session organised by the ministry to update citizens and the media on the strides recorded by the Ministry.
According to him, the removal from office or suspension of any elected LG official in the country is the prerogative of the legislative arm of the LGA.
He based his position on the July 11 judgement of the Supreme Court that granted autonomy to the 774 LGAs in the country.
“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”.
He said his initial reluctance to react to the development was because he wanted to know the basis upon which the LGA officials in Edo state were reportedly suspended.
The Edo State House of Assembly suspended the chairmen and vice chairmen of the LGAs for two months on the order of Gov. Monday Okpebholo via a letter accusing the LG chiefs of failure to submit their financial reports from September 23, 2022, to date, as directed, and directed that they be suspended.
The controversial suspension was attributed to alleged gross misconduct and insubordination by these chairmen and their deputies.
