By Peter Omopo
The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned to September 22 the hearing of all applications in a suit filed by the Osun State Government against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation over alleged plans to divert local government allocations.
The case, which has heightened political tensions in Osun, revolves around the control of council funds after the removal of local government chairmen elected in October 2022 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At Monday’s proceedings, vacation judge Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter after listening to submissions from all parties.
Representing the Osun Government, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Musibau Adetunbi, acting for the state’s Attorney-General, argued that the Abuja Division of the court lacked jurisdiction, insisting the case should be returned to the Osogbo Division where it was originally filed. He also sought to set aside the directive of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, that the matter be heard during the court’s vacation period.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to restrain the CBN from opening or operating accounts for the sacked APC chairmen and councillors, whom they say were lawfully removed by a subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court, affirmed by the Court of Appeal.
Adetunbi further disclosed that the state had withdrawn its claims against the Attorney-General of the Federation, noting that a fresh suit had been filed at the Supreme Court to challenge his alleged role in the controversy.
However, counsel to the CBN, Dr. Muritala Abdulrasheed, and to the Accountant-General, Tajudeen Oladoja (SAN), opposed the application for transfer, urging the court to proceed with the case during the vacation to avoid rendering it academic. Counsel to the AGF, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), also argued that the plaintiff’s notice of discontinuance had not been properly served.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter to September 22 for the hearing of all pending applications.
The dispute underscores a wider political battle in Osun State between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the opposition APC over control of local councils and access to statutory federal allocations, a critical source of grassroots funding.
