Falana Fires Legal Shots: Demands AGF Explain Why Supreme Court’s LG Autonomy Ruling Is Ignored

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has strongly criticized the federal government for failing to act on the issue of local government autonomy. Falana asserted that any state yet to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy is effectively committing treason.

In a landmark judgment last year, the Supreme Court granted financial autonomy to local government areas, declaring them an independent tier of government with full control over their resources.

Although the ruling was welcomed by local government chairmen and the federal government alike, its actual implementation remains stalled.

Speaking to Daily Independent, Falana challenged the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, to explain why the Supreme Court’s directive has not been enforced.

He said,

“Why don’t you call the Attorney General and ask him, ‘Why have you not complied with the judgment of the court?’ Are you not supposed to call the Attorney General? You should call him, because any state that fails to comply with the ruling is committing treason. So why are you not asking him?”

Falana added,

“You can quote me — the Attorney General must be held accountable and asked to explain why the judgment has not been obeyed. In my view, you’re directing your questions to the wrong people.”