In a definitive statement, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has reinforced that the Supreme Court’s decision regarding local government autonomy is final and cannot be overturned by any state or individual. During a media engagement in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, Fagbemi emphasized that the ruling is binding and must be adhered to by all parties involved.
This assertion comes in the wake of the Anambra State Local Government Administration Law 2024, enacted by Governor Chukwuma Soludo. Governor Soludo had expressed concerns about the feasibility of granting absolute autonomy to the 774 local government areas across Nigeria, warning that it could lead to disorder without a structured approach.
In response to these developments, the AGF categorically dismissed any efforts to amend the Supreme Court’s ruling. Fagbemi stated, “Are they going to rewrite the judgment of the Supreme Court? Once we have the full details of their law, we will act accordingly.”
Addressing rumors of a possible three-month grace period for implementing the ruling, Fagbemi clarified, “There is no such moratorium. The judgment was passed, but we acknowledged the necessity of establishing certain frameworks before full implementation. Nonetheless, implementation is compulsory, and no one can avoid it.”
He further explained that the federal government is proceeding cautiously to prevent legal complications during the enforcement of local government autonomy. “Some states have scheduled elections beyond October, and we are assessing whether those timelines are valid. We do not want to rush into implementation that could lead to legal complications or nullification by the courts,” Fagbemi noted.
Fagbemi warned states against disregarding the Supreme Court ruling, stating that such actions would constitute contempt. “I am aware that one or two states are heading in that direction, but they must understand that there is no moratorium for anyone. The judgment will be enforced,” he declared.