Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke
Osun State Government has petitioned the Federal Government over an alleged plan to release the state’s seized local government allocations into the bank accounts of sacked All Progressives Congress chairmen and councillors
In a letter addressed to the Finance Minister, Wale Edun, Counsel for the state government, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), insisted that the former council bosses had been removed from office by valid court judgments.
It described the move to route the allocations through these sacked officials as “a mockery of the administration of justice and a ridicule of the nation’s institutions,”
Titled “Again: Notification of the Pendency of Suit No: SC/CV/773/2025: Between Attorney General of Osun State v. Attorney General of the Federation in Respect of the Withheld Osun State Local Government Fund,” the letter faulted the plan to pay the disputed funds into “illegal accounts.”
Also, it noted that the Osun State Attorney General had already approached the Supreme Court to challenge both the seizure and the attempted disbursement of the funds, hence proceeding with payment would amount to “a grievous assault on the rule of law.”
Citing judgments of the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal, as sacking the APC council officials, the letter further read, “Sir, if it is true that you have indeed written to Mr President to approve payment of the Local Government funds to these court-sacked APC chairmen and councillors before the determination of the dispute by the Apex Court, then such an action is not only a mockery of the administration of justice but also a mockery of all the authorities of the nation, including that of Mr President himself.
“It will be a grievous assault on the rule of law. In the absence of the rule of law, sir, what takes over is what no one desires. This is why, in saner climes, the rule of law is jealously protected.
“It is inconceivable that you would ask His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to authorise the release of funds under legal dispute to these court-sacked chairmen and councillors.”
The state government urged the minister to halt further action until the Supreme Court determines the pending matter, stressing that the funds belong to the people of Osun across its 30 local councils, not “politicians who have been lawfully removed from office.”
The letter added, “Instead of seeking approval to do what is wrong, it is our counsel that you use your office to properly and faithfully apprise Mr President of the true position of the law.
“It is on record that, as of today, the Federation has tens of billions of naira belonging to the 30 Local Government Councils of Osun State. These billions, we repeat, are for the well-being of the people… not money that politicians can whimsically appropriate to settle political associates and followers.”
