THE Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has stated that Lagos state should have been excluded from the legal action initiated by the Federal Government against governors at the Supreme Court regarding alleged misconduct in the management of local governments.
He noted during the ongoing Justice Reform Summit organized by the Lagos State Judiciary that it was legally incorrect for the Federal Government to bring Lagos into the Supreme Court case many years after the local governments in the state had been enjoying full autonomy.
He argued that the Attorney General of the Federation should have identified non-compliant states before filing a collective lawsuit against all states.
While supporting the lawsuit, the governor emphasized that the violation of local council autonomy goes against the constitution’s spirit and necessitates a clear judicial interpretation for fairness and equity.
Sanwo-Olu called for a more robust justice system to safeguard the interests of all parties and prevent actions impeding the effectiveness of any government entity.
Furthermore, Governor Sanwo-Olu underscored the importance of judicial reform in enhancing the justice system’s administration, making it the ultimate recourse for the common citizen.
He called for a collaborative effort between the Bench and the Bar to elevate the standard of the justice system in Lagos, drawing parallels with the judicial efficiencies seen in countries like Singapore and the transformative impact it had on economic growth.
In a related development, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola, who represented Justice Iyabode Yerima of the Supreme Court, commended the Lagos judiciary for its pioneering role in justice development and highlighted the exemplary practices that have influenced other jurisdictions in Nigeria.
The event also featured remarks from other prominent legal figures like the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, and the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN.
The Federal Government’s legal action seeks to grant full autonomy to all local government areas nationwide, with specific prayers to prevent state governors from unilaterally dissolving democratically elected local government leaders without due process.
