The Osun State Government has responded to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, over his request to halt the upcoming local government elections in the state.
Fagbemi had earlier urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to stop the elections, citing legal concerns.
He pointed out that the court had invalidated the order used by the governor to dismiss local government chairmen elected under the previous administration.
In reaction, Osun Governor’s Special Adviser on Legal Matters, Nurudeen Kareem, stated that the ruling that removed the former chairmen remains in effect unless overturned by a higher court.
He referred to a Supreme Court ruling that stresses the importance of following court decisions at all levels.
Kareem asked the AGF to clarify his position, particularly in relation to a previous court case, arguing that the legal process must be followed correctly.
He also noted that the people of Osun are eager for further explanation on the matter.
Nurudeen said:
“While we respect the AGF’s stance on the PDP’s suit, we believe it is essential to highlight the ongoing relevance of the APP v. APC case, particularly given the Federal High Court’s decision in FHC/OS/CS/103/2022, which was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal on January 13, 2025.
“It is our firm belief that the judgment rendered by the Federal High Court in FHC/OS/CS/103/2022 on November 30, 2022, remains extant, subsisting and binding until overturned by a higher court with appropriate jurisdiction. This principle is well established in legal precedents, including the Supreme Court decision in the case of WADA v. BELLO (2016) 17 NWLR PT 1542 433, which affirms that judgments must be adhered to by all courts whether below or above the Court that made the order in the hierarchy of courts.
“Given the significance of this judgment for the integrity of our electoral processes, we respectfully urge the AGF to provide clarity on this matter. The citizens of Osun and the broader Nigerian populace eagerly await his informed opinion, which we believe will contribute to a deeper understanding of the legal landscape surrounding these elections.
“Thank you for your attention to this pressing issue.”
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