During a hybrid refresher course for judges and Khadis in Abuja, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), urged the judiciary and the legislature to refrain from endeavors aimed at obstructing government operations. In his presentation titled “Strengthening the Synergy between the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary under the Rule of Law – Executive Perspective,” Fagbemi emphasized the importance of cooperation among the branches of government.
Kamarudeen Ogundele, the Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Publicity in the Office of the AGF and Minister of Justice, conveyed Fagbemi’s message in a statement on Tuesday. Fagbemi specifically called upon the courts to reject efforts by private individuals to disrupt government procurement processes through unfounded injunctions.
Furthermore, Fagbemi advocated for enhanced collaboration among the executive, legislature, and judiciary to advance the nation’s interests. He underscored the imperative of synergy among the three arms of government for the collective progress and prosperity of Nigeria. This appeal from the AGF highlights the need for harmonious relationships and mutual respect among governmental institutions in fostering effective governance and upholding the rule of law.
Fagbemi said: “The need for synergy among the three arms of government cannot be over-emphasised. All the arms of government must see themselves as partners in progress. Without synergy and cooperation, the vision of our constitutional democracy is hardly achievable.
“Each arm must do all that is lawful to enhance the operation of government and no act must be done to undermine the vision of government and Nigeria as a democratic entity.
“The constitutional powers of the three arms of government overlap in some cases and each of them connects with the others at various points.”
He emphasised the essence of an independent judiciary adding that ”an efficient court system is a cornerstone of the rule of law.
“Where the judiciary falters, that is a clear invitation to anarchy. This must never happened.
“In the same vein, the legislature must, at all times, work in such a way to help enhance the performance of the executive arm.
“This is so because virtually all the policies to be implemented by the executive in a democratic setting emanate from laws passed and/or to be passed by the legislature.”