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Kwara Ex-Councilors Hails Supreme Court Judgment on LG Autonomy

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The forum of dissolved councils in Kwara State (2019) commends the Supreme Court for its landmark judgment on July 11th, 2024, which has put to rest the argument over whether the state government has the power to dissolve duly elected council chairmen and councilors.

Chairman of the forum, Hon. Salihu Yusuf (Adabata), made the disclosure in Ilorin on behalf of the members.

Recall that both executive and legislative councils were dissolved on June 18th, 2019, based on a frivolous petition written by Saidu Aliyu from Ilorin West Local Government Area, alleging misappropriation of funds amounting to ₦100 million IGR accruing to the councils. This was falsely and craftily executed to dissolve duly elected councils and take charge of their day-to-day activities.

To our dismay, the petition was deliberated upon by the state House of Assembly on Tuesday, June 18th, 2019, and the resolutions were passed the same day. His Excellency, Mallam Abdulrahaman Abdulrasak, graciously approved the House recommendation the same day. The speed at which the event took place was a clear breach of Section 29 of the Kwara State Local Government Cap 33, and the action of the Executive Governor and House of Assembly amounts to executive and legislative rascality.

Hon. Salihu lamented that the constitution provides for only democratically elected officials with fixed tenures, and nobody can remove them, just as nobody can remove the state House of Assembly or National Assembly until their period lapses. Unfortunately, they ignored our pleas, and now we have been vindicated by the Supreme Court ruling.

The affected governors, including the chairman of the Governors’ Forum, His Excellency, Mallam Abdulrahaman Abdulrasak, should hide their faces in shame with the judgment of the Supreme Court. His Excellency, Mallam Abdulrahaman Abdulrasak, should tender an unreserved apology to the victims of his maladministration and the good people of the state who have been subjected to various degrees of hardship as councils have been turned into mere kiosks without goods for five years.

We commend the Supreme Court, Presidency, relevant stakeholders, and Barrister Lateef Fagbemi SAN, AGF/Hon Minister of Justice, for taking bold steps to right the wrong aimed at making the local government administration system more meaningful and accessible to the masses.

Signed: Hon. Yusuf Salihu (Adabata)

For: Kwara Ex-Councils (2017-2020)

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