The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has warned that state governors tampering with funds allocated to Local Government Areas (LGAs) will be guilty of gross misconduct—an impeachable offense.
Speaking at the 2024 Annual Conference of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC) in Abuja, Fagbemi also cautioned the chairpersons of Nigeria’s 774 LGAs against mismanaging funds. He emphasized that the Supreme Court’s July 11, 2024 ruling, which granted financial autonomy to LGAs, places a legal obligation on governors to respect local government finances.
“Any governor who tampers with LGA finances commits gross misconduct, which is an impeachable offense. Local government chairpersons who misuse public funds risk jail, as they do not enjoy immunity like governors,” Fagbemi stated in his presentation titled, Aftermath of Supreme Court Judgment on Local Government Financial Autonomy: What Next?
Fagbemi also stressed the importance of LGAs delivering on their constitutional duties, such as providing access to primary education, healthcare for pregnant women and infants, and welfare programs for vulnerable populations. He added that debts incurred by state governments must not be shifted to LGAs, as such projects are not their constitutional responsibility.
The AGF commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for its commitment to strengthening governance and urged local government officials to embrace transparency, warning that the era of impunity was over. He also called on the media to report governance and judicial issues responsibly, emphasizing that good governance is a shared responsibility across all tiers of government.
Judiciary and Media: Partners in Democracy
In her address, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, represented by the Secretary of the National Judicial Institute, Mr. Abdullaziz Olumo, underscored the complementary roles of the judiciary and media in societal development.
“The judiciary safeguards justice, equity, and the rule of law, while the media informs the public, shapes opinion, and ensures accountability,” Justice Kekere-Ekun stated. She expressed concern over sensational reporting, noting its potential to distort facts, undermine public confidence, and interfere with fair trials.
She cited the landmark U.S. case of Sheppard v. Maxwell (1954), where excessive media interference led to a conviction being overturned due to the denial of a fair trial. Justice Kekere-Ekun urged the media to balance public interest with ethical reporting.
Legal Community’s Role in Governance
Keynote speaker Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, highlighted the judiciary’s crucial role in maintaining societal stability. Speaking on the conference theme, The Role of Courts in the Enforcement of Judgments, he stressed that court rulings must be respected until overturned by a higher court.
“Courts are the balance of justice between disputing parties. Without their enforcement, chaos looms,” Ozekhome warned. He also admonished lawyers and judges against unethical practices, including lobbying judges privately and attending events hosted by politically exposed persons with pending cases.
Ozekhome suggested that judges form associations to defend themselves against baseless accusations and called for systemic reforms to restore public confidence in the judiciary.
Call for Judicial Reform
In his welcome address, NAJUC Chairman Kayode Lawal commended the Supreme Court’s judgment on LGA financial autonomy, describing it as groundbreaking. However, he lamented the persistence of conflicting court rulings on similar cases and urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to sanitize legal practice.
“The judiciary’s role is too sensitive to allow misconduct to undermine public trust,” Lawal said, emphasizing the need for urgent reforms to address waning confidence in the justice system.
The conference, themed around enforcing judgments, underscored the importance of transparency, accountability, and collaboration across Nigeria’s legal and governance systems.
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Opeoluwa Benson – Content Researcher
