The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has come under criticism following allegations that he is using his office to influence the leadership succession of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) by directing the association to postpone its forthcoming national elections and implement sweeping changes to its electoral process.
A document signed by Fagbemi and obtained by SaharaReporters shows that the Attorney-General accepted and endorsed a series of recommendations by Wole Olanipekun (SAN) committee arising from a peace-building initiative undertaken by him in his capacity as the "Leader of the Bar."
However, the nation's Chief Law Officer was accused of overstepping his constitutional powers by issuing directives to an independent professional association while litigation over the election remains pending before the Court of Appeal.
The controversy began after Fagbemi disclosed that he became aware that trial courts had issued ex parte orders of injunction while appeals against those orders were already pending before the Court of Appeal.
According to him, the lower courts subsequently stayed further proceedings pending the determination of the appeals.
