- reaffirms commitment to rule of law
By John Dike,Osogbo
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has expressed deep appreciation to the the State Council of Obas, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), other concerned groups and individuals for their efforts in seeking the release of the state’s withheld local government allocations.
While reacting to recent appeals made by the NBA and traditional rulers to the Federal Government and the Presidency, the Governor praised their principled stand for justice and constitutional governance.
He said, “We have been vindicated on all fronts. I commend the NBA for constituting a committee to investigate the LG crisis and for the boldness in publishing their findings, which confirm there is no legal justification for the continued withholding of Osun’s LG funds.”
Adeleke emphasized that it was the judiciary, not his administration, that removed the former APC council chairmen in 2022.
He clarified that the court denied the APC’s request for a stay of execution, and the government acted only in compliance with the court’s directives.
“The February 22, 2025 local government elections were conducted based on a valid court order. The NBA, in its letter to the Attorney General of the Federation, has confirmed our adherence to due process and the constitution,” he stated.
The Governor added that the NBA’s findings, along with the June 13, 2025 ruling of the Court of Appeal, solidify the legitimacy of the PDP chairmen and councillors elected earlier this year.
He said, “There is no legal or constitutional reason for withholding Osun’s LG funds.
“I thank our royal fathers, senior legal figures including Mike Ozekhome SAN, Jacob Okutepa SAN, Ademola Oyedokun Esq., and all defenders of democracy and the rule of law.”
Once again, he called on the Federal Government to unfreeze Osun’s LG allocations in accordance with the constitutional provisions.
Earlier, the NBA called on the Federal Government to immediately release statutory LG allocations to Osun, describing the continued withholding as unconstitutional and a violation of court orders.
In a letter addressed to the Attorney General of the Federation, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN and General Secretary Mobolaji Ojibara argued that:
“The seizure of Osun’s LG funds disregards judicial pronouncements and undermines the Constitution. It sets a dangerous precedent and weakens public trust in democratic institutions.”
The NBA cited the Supreme Court ruling in AG Lagos State v. AG Federation (2004) to assert that the President has no authority to withhold local government funds.
The association recounted the history of the crisis — from the nullified APC-led council elections of October 15, 2022, to the legal battles that followed — and emphasized that the February 2025 elections, which produced PDP officials, were valid and legally binding.
Despite the rulings, the NBA revealed that based on a March 26, 2025 advisory from the Attorney General of the Federation, the Federal Government allegedly continued to recognize the sacked APC chairmen and instructed the Minister of Finance to halt disbursements to Osun’s 30 LGAs.
The association said this move has fueled speculation of a politically motivated freeze on funds, hampering grassroots governance.
To address the impasse, the NBA has tasked its National Litigation Committee and the Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) to engage with key stakeholders — including the AGF, Finance Minister, Osun State Government, and the National Assembly.
Should dialogue fail, the NBA said it would not hesitate to file a public interest suit against the Federal Government to defend constitutional order and uphold judicial authority.
The ongoing LG fund crisis in Osun highlights persistent tensions between federal and state powers over local government autonomy — a recurring issue in Nigeria’s constitutional and democratic evolution.
