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Why I Accepted To Serve in Tinubu’s Cabinet — AGF Lateef Fagbemi

Published

2 years ago

September 24, 2023

Editor

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi has revealed why he accepted to serve in the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu.

According to the legal luminary, he accepted to serve in the administration of President Tinubu in order to contribute his quota to the progress and development of the country.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria who said he was surprised by his nomination as a minister because he did not lobby for it, added that the time had come for the professionals and technocrats in the country not to leave the business of governance alone to the politicians but join the fray to make a change

Fagbemi spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital at the weekend when he was hosted to a reception by members of the Emmanuel Chambers led by the leader and founder of the Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN.

The event was attended by top lawyers in the country including Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN ; Chief Niyi Akintola,SAN ; Adebayo Adenipekun,SAN and the national secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Ajibola Bashiru.

The minister, who was the second lawyer from the chambers to be made Attorney General of the Federation after Chief Akin Olujimi, explained that he was already collating views and ideas of stakeholders towards having a blueprint for the nation’s justice system in line with the agenda of the president for the country.

While commending his colleagues and friends for organizing the reception, he stated that the contributions of Afe Babalola to his success and achievement in the legal profession were immeasurable and unmatched, promising not to disappoint the chambers in his new role.

According to him, “I did not submit any application nor lobby to be made the minister. I know a lot of people have been insinuating and I can say that I don’t know anything about the ministerial nomination. The president told me that, ‘ don’t allow anyone to deceive you, I want you that is why I appointed you. In fact, I did not have a CV as of the time I was nominated because I have never needed it in my life and when I got to the DSS , they were surprised I didn’t have a prepared CV.

“I have accepted this responsibility and all I need is your advice. We cannot all be saying the way they(Politicians) have been doing it we don’t like it , then you leave them. I am not a politician but we should be there to make a change in our country.

“Getting to a position is not the issue but maintaining the status of such a position is the issue and that is why I said it is a challenge because I know hopes are high. As I mentioned earlier, you don’t just come out and say this is what I will do, you must also follow up with how you will do it. And that is why all the critical stakeholders are being engaged to have their inputs, harmonize their views, then come out with what I will call a blueprint, in line with the Mr President’s Renewed hope agenda.”

On the call for a transformation of the country by speakers at the event, Fagbemi emphasized the need for the three tiers of government to collaborate and bring ideas together for the effective growth and development of the nation.

“The issue of transformation of the country is not a one man business. People make the mistake of thinking that it belongs to the federal government alone, that is not correct. The correct position is to appreciate the fact that Nigeria is a federation and when you talk about a federation, each segment has to man its post.

“In order to have any meaningful impact, progress and development, you need to engage each of these tiers of government to be on the same page and sing from the same hymn so that we can all present what I will call comprehensive development or progress in the nation,” he said.

Speaking, the ABUAD founder, Afe Babalola eulogized the achievements of Fagbemi in the legal profession since he joined his Emmanuel chambers in 1985 as corps member and conferred with the rank of SAN at the age of 37.

He called on the new Attorney general to use his office to engineer the needed change in the political system in the country with a new constitution , which he said would help the nation survive its current challenges across major sectors.

The renowned lawyer said, “I know Lateef Fagbemi, he is an uncommon man doing uncommon things and achieving uncommon results. He is a pride to the chambers because he had learnt how to turn things around.

“ While the government may be studying the situation, the truth is that Nigerians are becoming more and more impatient. The age long adage is that we should not treat leprosy with the drugs meant for scabies. I repeat that what we need is a New Constitution.

“I believe that with his experience , Lateef Fagbemi can turn things around and build a new Nigeria through a new constitution under which politics shall no longer be regarded as a transactional business.”

On his part, the Ekiti state governor, Biodun Oyebanji who hailed Babalola for the achievements recorded by his chambers in the legal profession by producing two Attorneys General, urged the minister to remain committed in upholding the principle of justice, fairness and the rule of law in the country.
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JUST IN: NSCDC Commandant, Slumps, Dies In Edo

Published

8 minutes ago

October 2, 2025

Editor

Edo State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC ), Agun Gbenga, slumped and died on Thursday in Benin

Gbenga slumped shortly after delivering his goodwill message at an event put up by the International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA), held at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre, Benin.

Immediately he slumped, attendees at the event made efforts to revive him, but to no avail.

He was hurriedly rushed to the Military Based Hospital, Benin where he was confirmed dead.

The Commandant was amongst personality to be awarded at the event.

News

Enugu Sets Deadline For Digital Charting Of Private Layouts

Published

1 hour ago

October 2, 2025

Editor

The Enugu State Government has directed that all registered private layouts and plans be submitted to the Office of the Surveyor General for digital charting and endorsement, as part of its land digitalisation reforms.

In a public service announcement issued on Wednesday, the Surveyor General of Enugu State, Chime Justus, said the exercise would run between October 1 and December 31, 2025.

“In line with the Enugu State Government’s directive on land digitalisation, all registered private layouts and plans are required to be presented to the Office of the Surveyor General of Enugu State for digital charting and endorsement,” the statement read.

According to him, the process would guarantee “security of property ownership, legitimacy of land documents, and a clear digital identity for all parcels of land.”

The government warned that effective January 1, 2026, only layouts and plans that had been digitally registered, charted, and endorsed would be recognised as valid.

“Any layout or plan not digitally endorsed by this date will be delisted and deemed invalid,” Justus stated.

The move, authorities say, is aimed at strengthening land administration, reducing disputes, and ensuring greater transparency in property documentation across the state.

In 2024, Governor Peter Mbah launched the Enugu State Geographic Information System, a digital platform designed to streamline land title applications and ensure seamless processing within 48 hours.

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Progress Means Food On Tables, Not Statistics, CAN Tells FG

Published

1 hour ago

October 2, 2025

Editor

The Christian Association of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to ensure that the gains of its economic reforms translate into real improvements in the lives of citizens, stressing that true progress cannot be measured by statistics alone.

President Bola Tinubu, in his Independence Day address, had highlighted Nigeria’s economic growth, noting that the country’s GDP grew by 4.23 per cent in the second quarter of 2025 — the fastest pace in four years — surpassing the International Monetary Fund’s 3.4 per cent projection.

He also said inflation had dropped to 20.12 per cent, the lowest level in three years, attributing the achievements to “sound monetary and fiscal policies” that had delivered 12 notable milestones.

But in his Independence Day message marking Nigeria’s 65th anniversary, CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, congratulated the nation while cautioning that reforms must be judged by their impact on households, not just on paper.

“True progress must be measured not only by statistics but by the food on every table, the security of every community, and the opportunities available to every child,” Okoh said.

The Christian body acknowledged progress in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and telecommunications since independence, noting that the country had moved from “a handful of schools and institutions” to thousands producing generations of professionals.

However, it warned that millions of Nigerians were yet to feel the benefits of reforms.

“Economic reforms, while necessary, have brought temporary hardship for millions. The rising cost of living, food insecurity, unemployment, and inflation continue to weigh heavily on households,” CAN said.

Okoh also expressed concern that insecurity threatened to overshadow the country’s achievements.

“Security remains an urgent concern. Terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and communal conflicts have caused deep pain and displacement. While strides have been made in restoring safety, more still needs to be done to guarantee the protection of lives and property,” he said.

The association called for stronger collaboration between security agencies, communities, and faith-based organisations to consolidate peace across the country.

It further urged the government to prioritise youth empowerment to stem the “persistent brain drain” and tap into the creativity and potential of young Nigerians.

“To stem this tide, there must be greater investment in education, innovation and youth empowerment, ensuring that no young Nigerian is left behind,” CAN stated.

Archbishop Okoh also reminded citizens of their civic responsibilities, calling on Nigerians to pay taxes faithfully, support local production, and uphold justice and equity.

“On this anniversary, let us renew our commitment to justice, equity, and good governance. Let us embrace hard work… and show love to one another as one people under God,” he added.