For many years, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) office was embroiled in disputes that frequently eclipsed its significance under the constitution. The question of whether the position should be distinct from the Minister of Justice was hotly debated. As public trust in the office rapidly declined, critics bemoaned what they saw as encroaching politicization.
But something extraordinary seems to be taking place today. The status and dignity of that post are being reinstated quietly and without fanfare. Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN) deserves a large portion of the credit for this, since his leadership as the Federation’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice has been characterized by professionalism, moderation, and a deep regard for the organization he oversees.
In light of this, Fagbemi’s term has been marked by a relative quiet that should not be confused with inactivity. Really not. The legal fight for local government sovereignty has been perhaps his most significant involvement.
For many years, state governments controlled and interfered with municipal governments to varied degrees, leaving them essentially at their mercy.
The Federal Government made the politically dangerous choice to challenge the practice in court under Fagbemi’s leadership.
The ensuing ruling, which upheld local governments’ financial independence, would eventually be considered one of the Fourth Republic’s most significant constitutional rulings.
The case marked a daring endeavor to strengthen constitutional governance and expand grassroots democracy, despite potential implementation challenges.
To be fair, the AGF has done his share.It is the law’s voice. The Supreme Court has made a clear and unmistakable statement. Politics and administration now bear more responsibility than the courtroom.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must now show that he has the political will to uphold the ruling and ensure that local governments get their funding straight from the Federation Account.
In the end, history may evaluate the case based on how faithfully the ruling is carried out rather than the strength of the legal arguments that led to success.
After all, the desire of governments to abide by court rulings is what gives them their actual value, not the beauty of their statements.
The growing focus on prosecutions for terrorism has been as important. Nigerians sought convictions, not just arrests, for years. After all, apprehending suspects is not the only test of criminal justice. It involves using due process to secure convictions.
Counterterrorism does not stop on the battlefield, as evidenced by the successful prosecution of those responsible for the horrifying Owo Catholic Church massacre. In court, it comes to an end.
Convictions are ultimately what solidify security victories. The Ministry of Justice under Fagbemi has been crucial in this regard.
The controversy surrounding the prosecution of juveniles detained in connection with the EndBadGovernance rallies provided another illustration of cautious leadership. When youngsters who were clearly emaciated were charged with treason, the public was outraged.
Instead of delving deeper, the AGF stepped in, requested the case file, and then ordered the charges to be dropped. It served as a reminder that prosecutorial powers are more than just tools for punishment. They serve as tools for justice as well. The AGF opted for compassion over rigidity and restraint over retaliation during a period of intense emotions.
What hasn’t occurred is perhaps just as significant. Fagbemi has mostly let the courts and the law speak, in contrast to earlier times when Attorneys-General were often at the center of institutional conflicts and public disputes.
He has behaved with the decency, professionalism, and self-control required of the country’s top law enforcement official.
In fact, his clear resolve to keep his office and himself away from the temptations of partisan politics has been one of the most remarkable aspects of his administration.
He hasn’t tried to use the position as a stage for political showmanship or seek political relevance.
This distinction is important.
Because the AGF post is too significant to be reduced to a mere political position.
In fact, the question of whether the AGF’s position should be distinct from the Minister of Justice’s was hotly contested for years by legal experts and public affairs pundits.
The argument was primarily motivated by worries that the combination of both offices frequently led to conflicts between partisan political motives and professional legal obligations.
Calls for such constitutional surgery were only bolstered by subsequent disputes between some of the office’s occupants.
Strangely, under Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi’s leadership, the ferocity of that discussion has much decreased.
Maybe this is because the public’s trust has been progressively rebuilt thanks to the actions of a classic gentleman who has handled his position with respect, professionalism, and prudence.
His tenure serves as a reminder that an institution’s design is not always the reason it fails.
They can occasionally fail due to the personalities of individuals in charge of them.
Sometimes what seems to call for a constitutional change only needs the appropriate occupier.
That may be one of the subtle yet important lessons of the current stewardship.
No AGF can meet everyone’s needs.
No public figure should be shielded from criticism either.
However, when recognition is warranted, criticism shouldn’t stop it.
The current AGF’s greatest accomplishment might not be found in a single instance.
It involves bringing dignity and status back to a position whose credibility has been called into question at various points.
Politics is a noisy game. History honors achievement.
Furthermore, there are enough signs to indicate that Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi is making an effort that is becoming more and more uncommon in Nigerian public life, even though it may still be too early to make a firm assessment of his tenure.
He prioritizes institution over individuality.
Proceed over the spectacle.
Above politics, the law.
It is noteworthy in and of itself.
Because quiet improvements can occasionally become the most lasting legacy of all in a nation that is frequently distracted by noise.
Maybe that’s why the AGF’s Office has been quietly restored.
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