Osun LG Funds: NULGE Accuses Accountant- General of Attempting Undermine Supreme Court

 

 

Osun LG Funds: NULGE Accuses Accountant-General of Attempting to Undermine Supreme Court

 

The Osun State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has raised alarm over what it described as a clandestine move by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) to divert withheld local government allocations in the state to persons already removed from office by the courts.

 

In a statement issued by its president, Dr. Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, the union alleged that the Accountant-General’s office was preparing to release funds covering over eight months into the accounts of former All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors whose tenure had been invalidated.

 

NULGE warned that such an action would amount to “gross misappropriation” and a deliberate attempt to preempt the decision of the Supreme Court, which is presently adjudicating on the matter.

 

“The Nigerian public is aware of the crisis that has engulfed local government administration in Osun State since February, following the seizure of funds by the Federal Government. Rather than allow the Supreme Court to determine the case, credible reports indicate that officials of the OAGF have been instructed to process mandates in favour of individuals who no longer occupy legitimate office,” the statement read.

 

The union further alleged that senior officials in the OAGF had worked through the weekend to prepare documents to facilitate what it called an “illegal diversion of public resources.”

 

It warned the Accountant-General, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and all relevant institutions to resist political pressure and adhere strictly to the law, noting that only duly recognised Directors of Administration and Finance authenticated by the Auditor General for Local Governments are authorised signatories to local government accounts.

 

NULGE also expressed concern that Osun had been singled out for “punitive treatment,” while other states continued to access their funds through constitutionally recognised channels. The union accused the Attorney-General of the Federation, who once represented the APC’s governorship candidate in Osun, of placing politics above justice.

 

“The Supreme Court must be allowed to rule without interference. Any attempt to foist a fait accompli undermines both democracy and the rule of law. The people of Osun will not accept this injustice,” the statement declared.

 

The union therefore called on the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations, and the international community to intervene, insisting that the funds in question belong to the people of Osun State and not to any political party or group of individuals.