No to Illegal LG Payouts, Osun Govt Orders Finance Minister

The Osun State Government has directed the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, not to seek presidential approval for the release of local government funds into accounts operated by former APC council chairmen and councilors who have been removed from office by the courts.

In a strongly worded letter signed by Musibau Adetunbi, counsel to the state, the government expressed concern over reports that the finance minister had written to President Bola Tinubu seeking approval to pay the disputed funds into what the state described as “illegal accounts,” despite ongoing litigation at the Supreme Court.

Titled “Notification of the Pendency of Suit No: SC/CV/773/2025”, the letter recalled that the Attorney General of Osun had filed a case challenging the seizure of the funds and their attempted disbursement to accounts of sacked APC politicians.

“It is inconceivable that you would ask His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief, to authorise the release of funds under legal dispute to these court-sacked chairmen and councilors,” the letter stated. “Instead, your office should properly apprise Mr. President of the true position of the law.”

The letter warned that proceeding with payment into such accounts would be a “mockery of the administration of justice” and an assault on the rule of law.

According to the letter, judgments from both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal had unequivocally removed the APC chairmen and councilors from office, rulings that remain unchallenged.

The state government emphasized that the withheld funds, amounting to tens of billions of naira, belong to the people of Osun’s 30 local government councils and are meant for farmers, market women, teachers, health workers, pensioners, and children—not for politicians ousted by the courts.

Osun’s legal team urged the finance minister to ensure local governments in the state receive the same treatment as their counterparts in other states, who continue to access their monthly allocations through joint state-local government accounts.

The counsel concluded by appealing to the finance minister to withdraw any letters already sent to the president for approval and to allow the Supreme Court to discharge its duties unhindered.

“It is imperative that the court be allowed to determine the matter while the funds remain protected for their intended beneficiaries,” the letter added.