Lateef Fagbemi: Tinubu Names APC Lead Counsel At Tribunal As Attorney-General, Minister Of Justice

Lateef Fagbemi, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who served as the lead counsel for the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Election Petitions Court in Abuja, has been designated as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice by President Bola Tinubu.

Fagbemi was among the ministerial nominees who underwent screening by the Senate.

During his time at the Presidential Tribunal, he urged the five-member panel, headed by Justice Haruna Tsammani, to assert that the election petitions lodged separately by Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party failed to provide evidence that Bola Tinubu’s election was manipulated.

He emphasized that no alternative data was presented to challenge the results announced by INEC Chairman, Yakubu Mahmood.

Born in Ijagbo, Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State, North Central, Fagbemi (64) earned his law degree from the University of Jos in 1984 and was admitted to the bar in 1985.

He further pursued a master’s degree in Law (LLM) from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in 1987 and achieved the status of Senior Advocate of Nigeria at the age of 37 while managing his private legal practice.

Having participated in numerous high-profile cases as a prominent legal practitioner, Fagbemi notably led the legal team representing former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, during the 2007 election case. His advocacy persuaded the Supreme Court of the validity of Amaechi’s victory in the state’s gubernatorial polls at that time.

Taking on the position of Nigeria’s 24th Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi will undertake the pivotal role of the chief legal officer for the President and the entire federation.

This role involves heading the Federal Ministry of Justice, which serves as the government’s legal arm, responsible for presenting cases on behalf of the government to the judiciary.

The Federal Ministry of Justice covers various government agencies and encompasses different departments that handle matters such as public prosecution, safeguarding citizens’ rights, and legal drafting.