July 12, 2024
The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the federation, Lateef Fagbemi, has said that Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of local governments takes immediate effect.
The seven-member Supreme Court panel held that state governors had continued to abuse their powers by retaining and using the funds meant for LGAs.
The apex court ordered the federal government to withhold allocations of LGs governed by unelected officials.
However, speaking with journalists after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Fagbemi said the judgment of the Supreme Court would take “immediate effect”.
The AGF said: “The ball is now in the court of state governors to conduct LGA elections, adding that the judgment stipulates punishment for refusal.”
