The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Wednesday, said policemen were dispatched to Magodo Phase 2 Estate area of Lagos State because the state government refused to implement a Supreme Court judgment.

Malami also faulted the criticism of the South-West governors, saying nothing was unruly about the operations of the police officers’ presence at the estate.

This was contained in a statement by Malami’s Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Umar Gwandu.

For days, policemen besieged the estate in the company of suspected land grabbers and members of a family who had planned to demolish property in the choice estate to execute a Supreme Court judgment. The development caused commotion at the estate as landlords and tenants panic over their fate.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that a Chief Superintendent of Police, Abimbola Oyewole, on Tuesday openly defied the order of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to vacate the estate.

The CSP had told the governor that he and his armed colleagues were at the estate on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba; and Malami.

The South-West governors had in a statement signed by Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Wednesday faulted the alleged roles of the IGP and the AGF.

“The role of the executive is, in this respect, simply to aide the maintenance of law and order in due compliance with rule of law arising from giving effect to the judgment of the apex court of the land.

“Let it be known that the issue is regarding a Supreme Court Judgement that was delivered in 2012 long before the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in office at a time when Malami was not a Minister.

“The judgment was a reaffirmation of the judgments of Court of Appeal and High Court delivered on 31st December, 1993.”

“It is widely reported in the papers that the Lagos state Governor was quoted to have said “I’ve spoken extensively with the Inspector-General of Police and the Honourable Attorney-General, and we’ve resolved all the issues”.

“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, would appreciate if the coalition of the Governors will help to unravel the circumstances preventing the Lagos State Government from enforcing the court order despite several attempts from 2012- 2015 and so-called settlement initiative started in 2016.

“Some of the cardinal pillars of democratic Government are the doctrine of separation of powers and obedience to the rule of law inclusive of Court Orders.

“It is a common knowledge that execution of the judgment and orders of Courts of competent jurisdiction, and the Court of last resort in the circumstances remains a cardinal component of the rule of law and the office of the Attorney General wonders how maintenance of the law and orders in the course of execution of the judgment of the supreme can be adjudged by imagination of the governors to be unruly.

“We want restate that sanctity of the rule of law is not a matter of choice,” the statement added.

https://punchng.com/magodo-lagos-should-have-implemented-scourt-verdict-since-2012-malami-slams-south-west-govs/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1641418748

For God sake, this was SC judgement with Lagos state government as defendant. How can you be a judge in a matter that you're a defendant?
How many cases of this nature the governor has intervened in this manner in the past?

What is so special in magodo?

Anyway, I will not blame the governor but his aides should be blame for failure to advise him.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that a Chief Superintendent of Police, Abimbola Oyewole, on Tuesday openly defied the order of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to vacate the estate.i.

It is very wrong and mischievous of the PUNCH news papers to claim the CSP defied the governor. This is because it is impossible to disobey someone who is not in a position to give you orders. Governor Sanwo-Olu is not in the CSP's chain of command

Governor Sanwo-Olu is just a Big Bad Bully that got put in his place by a more intelligent person.

I have to commend the CSP for bravery, intelligence and brilliance with the way he handled the Big Bad Bully called Governor Sanwo-Olu.

The gallant CSP practically schooled Sanwo-Olu on administrative procedures.

haslaw:


It is very wrong and mischievous of the PUNCH news papers to claim the CSP defied the governor. This is because it is impossible to disobey someone who is not in a position to give you orders. Governor Sanwo-Olu is not in the CSP's chain of command

Governor Sanwo-Olu is just a Big Bad Bully that got put in his place by a more intelligent person.

I have to commend the CSP for bravery, intelligence and brilliance with the way he handled the Big Bad Bully called Governor Sanwo-Olu.

The gallant CSP practically schooled Sanwo-Olu on administrative procedures.

Thanks to the video of that your 'gallant' csp, state Police and resource control just gained even more momentum and support in the South.

Keep at it and you guys will make disintegration VERY popular in the South.

He's power drunk... He will know his level after this tenure