The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has issued a stern warning that the Supreme Court's judgment regarding local government autonomy cannot be overturned. Speaking in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Tuesday, October 22, Fagbemi emphasized that the judgment is non-negotiable and must be upheld by state governors.
Fagbemi clarified that there is no three-month grace period for the implementation of the Supreme Court’s ruling, countering media reports suggesting otherwise. He stated, “Unfortunately, I know it has been in the media that they gave them (the governors) a three-month moratorium, which is not the position."
He further explained that while the judgment has been delivered, the federal government recognizes the need to establish certain frameworks before full implementation. “That it is going to be implemented is sacrosanct; nobody can run away from it," he asserted.
The Attorney General added, “Are they going to rewrite the judgment of the Supreme Court? Once we have the full details of their law, we will act accordingly."
Fagbemi's comments come amid the recent enactment of the Anambra State Local Government Administration Law 2024, which Governor Chukwuma Soludo indicated was necessary due to the complexities surrounding absolute local government autonomy.