The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has declared that under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, no governor will be allowed to remove local council chairpersons in violation of the Constitution unilaterally. 

Responding to a question on the constitutionality of the purported sacking of Edo council chairmen by the state governor, Monday Okpebholo, yesterday, Fagbemi asserted that such actions violate constitutional provisions, which vest the power to remove local council chairpersons exclusively in the legislative arm of the councils.

Fagbemi referenced a recent Supreme Court judgment affirming the autonomy of local governments, reiterating that governors lack the authority to dissolve councils or dismiss their leaders. He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is committed to enforcing constitutional safeguards that guarantee the independence of the local councils.

The minister also highlighted key reforms aimed at transforming Nigeria’s justice sector. These he said, include the newly introduced National Policy on Justice (2024–2028), which seeks to address systemic challenges in the sector. 

Fagbemi stated that the administration is leveraging technology, fostering harmony within Nigeria’s plural legal system, and enhancing the justice sector’s contributions to national security, electoral integrity, and economic growth.

HOWEVER, Governor Monday Okpebholo, yesterday, constituted a seven-man panel of inquiry to investigate the suspended 18 local council chairmen and their vices.
 
The panel is headed by a former Permanent Secretary in the state, Solomon Imohiosen, while Osagie Asabor is the Secretary. Other members are Adaze Andrew Enwanta, Patrick Idiake, Dorine Eduwui, Henry Unoakhe Itseuwa, and Prince Kassim Afegbua

ALSO, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, invited all the suspended 18 local council chairmen in Edo State for questioning over their financial records.
 
The invitation was contained in a letter titled: “Investigation Activities, Letter of Invitation”, by EFFC Director of Investigation, Abdulkarim Chukkol, addressed to the Secretary to the State Government.
 
Chukkol, in the letter dated December 17, directed the chairmen of Akoko-Edo, Egor, Esan Central, Esan North East, Esan South East, and Esan West to report at its office yesterday, December 19. Others also expected at the commission yesterday are the Chairmen of Etsako Central, Etsako East, and Etsako West local councils.
 
The remaining chairmen from Igueben, Ikpoba Okha, Orhionmwon, Ovia North East, Ovia South West, Owan East, Owan West, and Uhunmwode local councils are scheduled to report on Friday, December 20.

IN another development, the 14-man Edo State Asset Verification Committee set up to probe the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, accused him of spending about N3.8 billion of state government funds as a contribution to the construction of the Museum of West Africa Arts (MOWAA) project.
 
When The Guardian reached out to MOWAA, the Institute said they were yet to get the details of the matte. Briefing newsmen in Benin, the Chairman, Edo State Assets Verification Committee, Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, who presented the committee’s interim report, said by its findings, MOWAA, though captured as an independent private trust sitting on government land, received and spent N3.8 billion as a contribution from the Obaseki administration.

Umakhihe, who lamented the huge funds invested by the previous administration in the MOWAA project, said there is a need to present some findings to guide the operations of the government and governance.  He lamented that the previous administration made a huge financial commitment to the MOWAA project without the input of the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism in the area of supervision.
 
Umakhihe, who led other members of the committee during the presentation of the interim report in the Government House in Benin, expressed worry over the revelation.
 
Umakhihe also raised concerns over the transaction on the Radisson Hotel project, which is ongoing in the state.
 
The Asset Verification Committee Chairman, who said that while the project was initiated by the state government by sourcing over N17.5 billion from the Stock Market and an initial payment of N2 billion for the acquisition of land, explained that just before the exit of the immediate past administration, the ownership had changed, leaving Edo State, the core investor, with 20 per cent ownership.