Lagos Assembly Summon State AG Over Supreme Court Judgement, Commend Police

The Lagos State House of Assembly has invited the Attorney-General of the State, Lawal Pedro, to appear before it to explain the Supreme Court judgement on local governments in the country.

Naija News reported earlier that the apex court ruled that it is unconstitutional for state governors to withhold funds designated for local government administrations.

The landmark judgement, delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, emphasized that this practice contravenes the financial autonomy rights of local governments and has persisted for over two decades.

In the judgment delivered by the seven-man panel, Justice Agim ruled that the 774 local government councils in the country are to independently manage their funds.

In a statement to Naija News on Thursday, Eromosele Ebhomele, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, disclosed that the lawmakers said there was a need for better understanding of the decision of the apex court in relation to some provisions in the Constitution of the country.

Ruling after a voice vote by lawmakers at plenary, Obasa ruled: “There is a need for us to seek clarification and understanding of this judgement. It will be good to invite the Attorney-General to brief us and give his understanding so that we do not run foul of the judgement.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State House of Assembly has resolved to write a letter of commendation to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the successful operation by men of the force that led to the elimination of nine kidnappers in the state recently.

A letter of commendation is also to be sent to the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Adegoke Mustapha Fayoade, for the efforts of the policemen which led to the fruitful operation.

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who presided over the plenary, said the police and men of the force who took part in the operation needed to be commended.

Dr. Obasa agreed with members of the House that letters be sent to Egbetokun and Fayoade further charging them not to relent in keeping the State safe for residents.

He stressed the need for stakeholders to fast-track considerations for the creation of state police to support the federal police system.

The Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Noheem Adams, had earlier recalled how the police launched the operation against some kidnappers in the Ladipo area of the state and eliminated nine of them.

According to him, there has been calm in the area since the operation was carried out.

Noheem added that the Ikorodu area of the state which hitherto had issues of kidnapping now enjoys relative peace.