The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has expressed disapproval over the suspension of local government chairmen and vice-chairmen in Edo State by the state’s House of Assembly.
Fagbemi stated that while the details of the case remain unclear, it is unconstitutional for a state assembly to suspend duly elected local government officials.
He clarified that only the legislative body at the local government level has the authority to take such action.
On Tuesday, the Edo State House of Assembly passed a resolution suspending the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the state’s 18 local government areas for a period of two months.
The Assembly also instructed the heads of the legislative arms in the councils to assume leadership during the suspension.
This move reportedly followed a complaint from Governor Sunday Okpebholo, who accused the local government leaders of insubordination for allegedly failing to provide the financial records of their councils as requested.
