The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has cautioned state governors against misappropriating funds belonging to Local Government Areas (LGAs), describing such actions as gross misconduct and an impeachable offence.
Fagbemi issued the warning on Thursday at the 2024 Annual Conference of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC) in Abuja.
He emphasized the legal and ethical implications of tampering with LGA finances, referencing the July 11, 2024 Supreme Court judgment that granted financial autonomy to local governments across Nigeria.
“By the judgment, any governor who tampers with the finances of LGAs in his state is guilty of gross misconduct, which is an impeachable offence,” Fagbemi stated in his presentation titled Aftermath of Supreme Court Judgment on Local Government Financial Autonomy: What Next?
The AGF underscored the importance of LGAs in grassroots development, urging council chairmen to prioritize their constitutional duties.
He outlined key areas requiring urgent attention, including primary education, healthcare for pregnant women and infants, and welfare programs for vulnerable populations.
He warned that any local government chairman who mismanages public funds risks prosecution, as they lack the immunity enjoyed by governors.
“The era of impunity is over,” he declared, adding that debts incurred by governors on state projects must not be offloaded onto local governments.
Fagbemi commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for strengthening governance structures and called for transparency in the management of LGA funds.
He also urged the media to play a pivotal role in holding officials accountable, emphasizing accurate reporting on governance and judicial proceedings.
“Good governance is a collaborative effort, and every tier of government must be held accountable,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, represented by the Secretary of the National Judicial Institute, Abdullaziz Olumo, highlighted the complementary roles of the judiciary and media in advancing democracy.
She warned against sensationalism in news reporting, which she said undermines public confidence in the judiciary.
“Trial by media,” she noted, referencing the 1954 U.S. case of Sheppard v. Maxwell, distorts facts and infringes on constitutional rights.
The CJN called for ethical reporting to ensure public confidence in judicial processes, describing the media as the “conscience of society.”
In his keynote address, constitutional lawyer Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, stressed the judiciary’s role in enforcing justice over technicalities.
He warned against unethical practices, such as lawyers influencing judges outside courtrooms, and advised judges to remain impartial in their duties.
“The courts hold the balance of scale between feuding parties. Without this, there may be chaos in the country,” Ozekhome stated.
He urged judges to form an association to defend themselves against baseless allegations and emphasized the need for radical steps to restore public confidence in the justice system.
Kayode Lawal, Chairman of the Abuja Chapter of NAJUC, lauded the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, describing it as a “new lease of life” for LGAs.
However, he decried the persistent issue of conflicting judgments by courts of coordinate jurisdiction, which he said erodes public trust in the judiciary.
Lawal called on the Nigerian Bar Association, under Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, to sanitize the legal profession and ensure that the judiciary remains untarnished by unethical practices.
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