The Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the attorney-general of the federation and minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) obstructed statutory financial allocations to Osun local government councils.
Recall that the federal government in the past three months allegedly withheld local government allocations for Osun State from the federation account.
The party, in a release signed by its media director, Hezekiah Oladele Bamiji, in Osogbo condemned what he described as the manifest abuse of office and high-handedness that portrays not just a conflict of interest but a dangerous erosion of the doctrine of separation of powers which forbids the attorney-general from usurping judicial powers not vested in him by law.
“We take great exception to what appears to be a deliberate, politically motivated interference in the governance of Osun State, particularly the unwarranted obstruction of statutory financial allocations to our local government councils.
“The act, ex facie, is not only ultra vires but also a subversion of the rule of law. Nemo judex in causa sua-no one should be a judge in his own cause. Mr Fagbemi, having previously served as lead counsel to Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, a principal actor in Osun APC, ought to recuse himself from any matter directly or indirectly affecting the political ecosystem of the state, and allow the law courts decide as appropriate.
“The recent directive, lacking any known judicial backing, which halted the disbursement of funds to democratically elected local governments in Osun State, is a clear affront to constitutionalism and the principles of audi alteram partem-the right to a fair hearing. No court has issued any pronouncement to warrant such fiscal strangulation. This is not only an illegality but a calculated attempt to undermine good governance in Osun State.
“The office of the Attorney-General is a sacred trust, and must not be wielded as a political weapon. Mr Fagbemi must rise above personal and partisan considerations, and act as the guardian of justice and fairness for all Nigerians, regardless of party affiliation.
Salus populi suprema lex esto-the welfare of the people shall be the supreme law”.
Osun PDP therefore called on President Bola Tinubu, to rein in Fagbemi and remind him that no one is above the law stressing that Nigeria cannot survive on the force of coercion but must be governed by the constitution and the will of the people.
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