*Fagbemis Legacy*
Lateef Fagbemi SAN took office as the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice with much expectation on his shoulders. His confirmation hearing at the Senate and his performance evoked intense public scrutiny and interest.
A cerebral lawyer of no mean repute. He is best known for the brilliant manner he handled the Rotimi Amaechi Governorship case in addition to the many stunning election litigation victories in his resume. Understandably, he is one of those ministers expected to perform.
So far, he has not disappointed. Fagbemi’s tenure has been purposeful. He achieved a landmark victory at the Supreme Court, ensuring direct funding to local governments and halting arbitrary state governor interference.
Such was his subject matter appreciation that the Justices of the Supreme Court simply had to agree with him. His other major achievement was the upward review of salaries and allowances for judicial officers, which had stagnated for over a decade. In all, his sense of purpose has infected the Federal Ministry of Justice, where professionalism is now seen as the watch word.
On his assumption of office, Fagbemi assured Nigerians that he would review the Laws of Nigeria to keep up with their expectations for a body of legislation that improves their socio-economic and political circumstances
This is a huge task when it is realised that our laws have not been reviewed for more than two decades. One wonders what manner of country allows her laws to be irrelevant to its developmental wellbeing. Some will say that’s the story of Nigeria. Our archaic laws must take some credit for the real or imagined perception of lawlessness that dominates our national polity.
The most consequential decision Fagbemi made in his bid to give Nigeria a set of progressive laws was his assemblage of some of the finest legal minds in the business of law reform to facilitate the task.
Deji Adekunle SAN, Sebastian Hon, SAN, Peter Akper SAN, and Ernest Ojukwu SAN are the prominent names that make up the membership of the Federal Government Committee on the Review of the Laws of Nigeria. Then there is Olawale Fapohunda SAN, who chairs the Committee. Fapohunda comes with intimidating credentials.
This immediate past two term Attorney- General of Ekiti State redefined the role of Attorney General of a State. Innovative laws, groundbreaking administrative interventions, and public intest litigation were the hallmarks of his tenure. Fapohunda gave a positive reawakening to an office many think does nothing exciting beyond law and litigation.
This experience will now be tested to the extreme in his current national assignment. Even more so when the Federal Ministry of Justice suffered 0% cash-backing for capital projects in 2025, a situation severally cited as a major obstacle to getting things done in the Justice Ministry.
Fagbemis focus on systemic reform, and enabling strong leadership under difficult conditions is exemplary. However. Nigerians have shown limited patience with public officers, expecting delivery at all costs, even if it means squeezing water from the rock.
Fagbemis legacy now hinges on completing the comprehensive review of Nigerian laws despite severe financial constraints. This will be a key deliverable of his term in office, and to add to his problems, with the 2027 presidential elections around the corner, time is running out.
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