Divert public funds and go to jail — AGF warns Local Government chairmen.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has warned local government council chairmen & councillors against diverting funds meant for their jurisdictions.
Speaking at an event in Abuja on July 25th, Fagbemi warned that anyone found wanting will be jailed. Recall that the Supreme Court on Thursday morning, July 11, granted financial autonomy to the 774 local governments across the country.
Fagbemi, who observed that local government chairmen may want to divert the funds amid state pressure, said: “Well, we have a situation on our hands, I know that it is still there; the conduct of elections is to be undertaken by the states.
But the distinction is this: don’t forget, the governors have immunity, the local government council chairmen or councillors, they have no immunity, so they have to choose between dealing with the funds of the local government as they like and risking going to jail.
