The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has warned local government chairmen and councillors that they will face prosecution and imprisonment if found misappropriating Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations meant for their jurisdictions.
Fagbemi emphasized the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on local government autonomy, stressing that funds allocated to local governments must be directly received and utilized by them, not state governments. He noted that local government officials do not enjoy immunity and will face jail terms for misappropriating funds.
The Attorney General urged local government officials to prioritize local development and governance, warning that tampering with FAAC allocations would result in severe consequences. He highlighted the importance of good governance at the local level in addressing the root causes of insecurity, such as poverty, unemployment, and social injustice.
This development follows the Supreme Court’s judgment granting local government autonomy and direct access to FAAC allocations, a move aimed at enhancing governance, security, and human rights at the grassroots level.