The Osun State Government has filed a suit at the Supreme Court against the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, over the alleged unlawful withholding of statutory allocations to its 30 local government councils since March 2025.

The suit, filed on Monday, follows the withdrawal of an earlier one on the same issue. Osun is asking the apex court to compel the Federal Government to release the withheld funds and halt what it describes as “an unconstitutional and arbitrary seizure” of local government revenues.

In the originating summons, filed by Osun’s Attorney-General alongside senior lawyers Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, the state government is seeking several declarations, including that the AGF lacks the constitutional authority to block local government funds.

Osun argues that the AGF’s action contravenes subsisting judgments of both the Federal High Court in Osogbo, delivered on November 30, 2022, and the Court of Appeal, June 13, 2025. These judgments affirmed the legitimacy of council chairmen and councillors elected on February 22, 2025.

According to the state, the AGF, in a letter dated March 26, 2025, advised that funds be withheld due to a “local government crisis.” However, the state contends that the appellate court ruling had already settled the issue, invalidating the October 2022 local government elections conducted by the previous administration.

Osun expressed concern that proceeding with the Abuja hearing could lead to conflicting judgments, warning that the Chief Judge’s transfer order risks creating a perception of judicial bias.

As of the time of filing this report, no date has been set for the hearing of either suit.

Source: Punch