Osun

Osun Govt Kicks Against Finance Minister’s Alleged Move To Release LG Funds To APC Chairmen

BySodiq Lawal

PublishedSeptember 25, 2025

The Osun State Government has opposed an alleged move by the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, to release the state’s withheld local government funds into the accounts of sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) council chairmen and councillors.

Counsel to the state government, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), in a strongly worded letter addressed to the minister, described the purported move as “a mockery of the administration of justice and a ridicule of the nation’s institutions.”

He stressed that the affected council officials had been validly removed from office through court judgments and therefore had no legal claim to the funds.

The letter, 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,” cautioned against the release of the disputed funds into “illegal accounts.”

Adetunbi noted that the state had already approached the Supreme Court to challenge both the seizure and the attempted disbursement of the local government funds, warning that going ahead with the payment would amount to “a grievous assault on the rule of law.”

“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,” the letter read in part.

The state government cited judgments of the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal that confirmed the sack of the APC council officials, insisting that it would be unlawful to divert the withheld billions of naira to politicians already removed from office.

According to the letter, “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 government urged the minister to halt all actions on the matter until the Supreme Court gives its verdict, maintaining that the funds belong to the people of Osun across its 30 local councils and not to “politicians who have been lawfully removed from office.”

“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,” the statement added.

The Supreme Court is expected to give a final ruling on the case in the coming weeks.

Sodiq Lawal

Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.