Oyo State Government has rejected the intervention of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) in the raging controversy over local government dissolution in the state.

Attorney-General of Oyo State, Professor Oyelowo Oyewo, in a response to a letter by the AGF, said the AGF has no business dabbling into the matter of local government dissolution in Oyo State, which is pending before the Court of Appeal.

In the rejoinder entitled “RE: ALLEGED UNCONSTITUTIONALITY OF DISSOLUTION OF ELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS AND APPOINTMENT OF CARETAKER COMMITTEES: THE URGENT NEED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH EXTANT JUDICIAL DECISIONS,” Professor Oyewo said: “I wish to note that your letter Ref. No, HAGF/OYO/2020/Vol.1/1 of 14th January, 2020 dealing with the above subject matter was never served on us, but we read about it and had to secure a copy from the social media.

“I must note that under Section 7(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which you referred to in your letter, it is the Law of the State Government that is to ensure the existence of the system of Local Government by democratically elected Local Government Council by providing for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils and not a Federal Law/Act.

“It is, therefore, not clear under what Act of the National Assembly the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice was acting in writing the letter under reference.

“It should be borne in mind that our Constitution has established a Federal system of government whereby the state government is not under the command of the Federal Government, neither are we under Military Era when the Federal Government could give a binding order to the State Government by mere proclamation and at will. We are now in a civilian dispensation and the position of every officer whether at the Federal or State level is guided by the provisions of the Constitution and relevant law.”

The Oyo AG referred the AGF to two cases including Attorney-General Lagos Vs Attorney-General Federation (2004) 18 N.W.LR (PT.S 904)II and Attorney General Abia Vs Attorney-General Federation(2002) 6 N.W.L.R (PT. 763)264.

The letter continued: “We are of the firm belief that your letter under reference was written without adequate information and knowledge of the current position with respect to the subject matter of Local Government Dissolution in Oyo State.

“A careful diligent search would have shown that the issue of Dissolution of Local Government in Oyo is presently a subject matter of stay/appeal and pending at the Court of Appeal in the following cases; a.) Governor of Oyo State vs Basorun Bosun Ajuwon Appeal NO CA/IB/300/2019 and b.) Basorun Majeed Bosun Ajuwon vs Governor of Oyo State CA/IB/362/2019.”

The Government of Oyo State, however, took exception to perceived threats by Malami, especially his directive to some federal agencies to “ensure compliance,” noting that until the constitutional right of appeal, which is guaranteed in the country’s adjudicatory system, is exhausted, Malami had no right to dabble in the matter of the local government dissolution or threaten the State.

"We, therefore, want to advise the Attorney-General of the Federation to rise above partisan politics and advise parties to await judgment of the court in the various appeals. To do otherwise is to foist a fait accompli on the court. As a law-abiding Government, we are prepared to abide by the decision of the court when eventually delivered.

“We are, however, unperturbed by the subtle threat in your letter and your directives to take steps to ensure compliance of a cited judgment in which Oyo State was never a party and on a live matter in which an appeal is pending.

“For the avoidance of doubt, please note further that in Oyo State, the issue of Local Government administration is presently before the court of competent jurisdiction and by our adjudicatory system, whoever is aggrieved by the decision of a court has the constitutional right of appeal. Until such right is exhausted, the Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice cannot dabble into such matter. We are aware of the provisions of Section 174 (1) to (3) of the CFRN, 1999 (as amended) but they only relate to criminal proceedings and not civil matters as in this case.

"The action of the Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice is therefore uncalled for with respect to a matter that is sub judice. It is only a court of law that can given such an order and not the office of the Attorney-General & Minister of Justice. All the cases referred to in your letter mentioned above are not on all fours with the present cases involving Oyo State because the facts are not the same. A case is an authority for what it decides.

“It will therefore be in interest of justice to allow the rule of law to prevail by letting the pending cases involving Oyo State on the dissolution of Local Governments in Oyo State to run their full course in the law courts.”

Benwallt:
Malami again. Is he so daft?

Esseite:
This only happens when a Governor is not answerable to any Godfather and believes in the votes of his people, neither is he over-ambitious on political growth...

Smartchoiice:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/dailypost.ng/2020/01/23/oyo-lgs-mind-your-business-makinde-govt-replies-agf-malami/amp/

anonimi:


As daft as his olodo boss and his almajiri CJN.


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sparog:
The way you guys insult elderly people cos of politics on this forum is not cool oooo

Calling people old enough to be your fathers and grandfathers derogatory names is not cool even if you don't like or agree with the person's politics


I dnt like the way the country is at the moment too but calling people names would nt solve the challenges the country is facing

FrLukas:


That's the problem with the average African.

These so-called elders have sold your destiny and those of your kids and their kids after them and pocketed the money, but here you are advocating for respect for them.

Do you know what they do to corrupt public officials in China no matter how old they are?

Keep bowing and scraping to the them while they suck the life out of the nation.

Respect is earned not bestowed.

sparog:
The way you guys insult elderly people cos of politics on this forum is not cool oooo

Calling people old enough to be your fathers and grandfathers derogatory names is not cool even if you don't like or agree with the person's politics


I dnt like the way the country is at the moment too but calling people names would nt solve the challenges the country is facing

traihit:


Much as I wouldn't want to support namecalling whether it's for elderly people or not, I'd still like to state that the 'elderly' in Nigeria actually miused the privilege of respect being bestowed on them by the younger generation. Go to any bureaucratic setup and see how corrupt some of these 'elderly' people are. Look at the 'elderly' people in Nigeria who have amassed vast amounts of wealth for their generations to come while over 100million Nigerians are living in the abyss of poverty.

I don't insult people: young or old and I don't support insulting anyone even if I disagree with what they've done but if Nigeria were to have capital punishment and strictly adheres to it, many of these people you call 'elderly' would be rotting in dungeons now.

sparog:


I'm certain you have parents at home and sometimes you might not like the choices or decisions they make around the house. When their decisions causes negative repercussions to the family, do you go about insulting and vilifying them?


Now tell me, do all the insults change anything?

No matter the situation or provocation, a well trained person will be civil when talking to elders.