Reflecting on the ongoing political tensions in Rivers State, Fagbemi said he deliberately maintained neutrality on the matter, as it is currently undergoing judicial review. He noted the controversy surrounding the appointment of Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Administrator of Rivers State, warning against public commentary on cases before the courts. “People should stop interpreting the law based on political partisanship,” he said. “Let’s allow the judiciary to make its pronouncement.”
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has cautioned against politicizing judicial matters, urging Nigerians to interpret legal issues strictly through the lens of the Constitution. Speaking in Lagos on Thursday at the presentation of “Tribulations and Trophies: Bola Ajibola in His Own Words!”—an autobiography of the late former Attorney-General of the Federation—Fagbemi advised stakeholders to set aside emotions and rely on legal principles for clarity on contentious issues.
Fagbemi praised the late Bola Ajibola as a reformer and legal icon of great integrity, saying his legacy in justice reform and institution-building remains impactful. “In the Ministry of Justice, the records are there,” he said. “He did so much in terms of law reforms and in advising the authorities at critical times. Every lawyer should strive to emulate this great man who did so much in Nigeria and beyond.”
The book event drew several dignitaries, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola. Bola Ajibola, who served as a Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague and founded Crescent University in Abeokuta, passed away on April 8, 2023, at the age of 89.
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