Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, has faulted the Edo state house of assembly for suspending the chairpersons of the 18 LGAs in the state.
On Tuesday, the Edo house assembly suspended the chairpersons and their deputies for two months over alleged gross misconduct.
Blessing Agbebaku, the speaker of the house, said Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, had written a petition to the assembly regarding the chairpersons’ refusal to submit the financial records of their councils to the state government.
Addressing journalists during a function in Abuja on Thursday, Fagbemi said state houses of assembly lack the power to suspend or remove council chairpersons.
He said local government chairmen cannot just be removed or suspended by any governor without following due process of law under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The AGF maintained that only the legislature at the local government level has the power to remove the chairpersons.
“I am aware that since July 11, when the supreme court delivered a landmark judgment, local government administration has taken a new turn, different from the old order,” he said.
“At any rate, we are still studying the situation, but before final reaction, it must be stated categorically and emphatically that for now, local government chairmen can only be removed through the legislative arm of the local government itself and not the state house of assembly.”
