Fagbemi
The brewing constitutional crisis in Edo State took a dramatic turn on Monday, as Governor Monday Okpebholo and the Edo State House of Assembly insisted on the suspension of all 18 local government chairmen.
On Friday, Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo High Court had issued a mandatory injunction, declaring the suspension null and void and restraining the state government and other parties from meddling in local government operations until the substantive case is heard.President Bola Tinubu’s government had secured a landmark Supreme Court judgment affirming the financial and administrative independence of local councils.But the gains of Local Government autonomy suffered setback when the Edo State Government masterminded suspension of Local Government chairmen.
The crisis begun when Governor Okpebholo issued a 48-hour ultimatum for local council chairmen to submit their financial statements directly to him.
Following their refusal, the governor petitioned the state assembly to suspend the chairmen, citing “gross misconduct” under Section 10(1) of the Edo State Local Government Law (2000).
The Edo Assembly subsequently suspended the chairmen and their deputies for two months.
State government officials also contradicted statements from the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
The AGF recently reaffirmed that only local councillors—not governors or state assemblies—hold the constitutional authority to suspend or remove elected local government officials. Daily Trust
