The Osun State Government has strongly condemned and rejected a statement attributed to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, characterizing it as biased and politically motivated to favor his political party.
Nurudeen Kareem, Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor on Legal Matters, issued a statement emphasizing the AGF’s comments regarding the PDP suit while underscoring the importance of addressing the ongoing relevance of the APP v. APC case. This case gained attention following the Federal High Court’s decision, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal on January 13, 2025.
Kareem expressed gratitude towards AGF Fagbemi for his insights on the PDP versus APC case concerning the 2022 Osun local government election. However, he stressed the necessity for the AGF to clarify the implications of the APP v. APC judgment, particularly given the Federal High Court’s ruling in FHC/OS/CS/103/2022, which remains binding until overturned by a higher court.
The statement asserted, “We firmly believe that the judgment rendered by the Federal High Court in FHC/OS/CS/103/2022 on November 30, 2022, is extant, subsisting, and binding until a higher court decides otherwise. This principle is well established in legal precedents, including the Supreme Court’s decision in WADA v. BELLO (2016) 17 NWLR PT 1542 433.”
Kareem urged the AGF to provide clarity on this matter, noting that the citizens of Osun and the broader Nigerian populace are eager for his informed opinion on the legal landscape surrounding the upcoming elections.
In a parallel reaction, the civil society group Osun Democrats for Democracy criticized AGF Fagbemi, who is also the former counsel to Governor Oyetola, for overstepping his bounds by issuing statements on the Osun Local Government crisis. They affirmed that the AGF does not have the authority to halt elections or interpret court rulings.
Adewale Fowora, the group’s Legal Adviser, expressed shock at the AGF’s involvement, stating, “We were surprised that a supposed Chief Law Officer of the Federation has decided to speak on matters in which he has a personal interest. He is not only a biased assessor but has no power to stop an election or clarify a court judgment.”
Fowora emphasized that only a court of law can halt an election or interpret its own rulings and criticized the AGF for supporting self-help actions, which are not in accordance with legal procedures.
The group further highlighted concerns over the AGF’s failure to mention the APP judgment, which removed APC council aspirants from contention, asserting that this judgment was not under appeal at Akure and should have been acknowledged.
In conclusion, the Osun Democrats for Democracy advised the state government to proceed with the scheduled elections on Saturday, dismissing the AGF’s statement as a politically motivated action devoid of legal foundation.
The situation continues to unfold as the citizens of Osun prepare for the elections on Saturday, with significant implications for the region’s political landscape.
This report is brought to you by Newspot Nigeria.
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