The Osun State House of Assembly has accused former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, of unlawfully influencing the disbursement of local government funds and interfering in council administration, describing the alleged actions as a threat to democracy, the rule of law, and grassroots governance.
The allegation was made on Sunday during a press conference addressed by the Speaker of the House, Adewale Egbedun.
Mr Egbedun said the Assembly was concerned that individuals whose elections as local government officials were nullified by the courts, and whose tenure expired on 22 October 2025, were still occupying council secretariats and managing public funds.
According to him, the officials — all affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) — have no legal authority to remain in office.
“These individuals have no legal mandate. They are not recognised by law, by the courts, or by the Constitution. Their continued presence in local government secretariats is illegal and must not continue,” the Speaker said.
The Assembly further alleged, without presenting evidence, that Mr Oyetola had been issuing directives regarding the release of council allocations despite holding no constitutional or statutory authority over local government finances.
“Being related to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria confers no power to interfere in the affairs of Osun State local governments,” Mr Egbedun said.
Alleged illegal payments
The House claimed it received credible information that substantial sums had been disbursed under Mr Oyetola’s directives. These allegedly include ₦25 million each to 30 APC local government chairmen, ₦12 million to each vice chairman, and ₦10 million to 332 councillors.
It also alleged that ₦130 million was paid to selected traditional rulers, while ₦13 billion was released as legal fees to a private law firm representing the APC officials.
Mr Egbedun said the lawyers were not engaged by the councils and described the use of local government funds to pay them as a diversion of public resources.
“Local government funds are being used illegally to pay lawyers who represented APC chairmen and councillors in their private capacities. The lawyers were not engaged by the local governments,” he said.
He questioned why ₦13 billion was allegedly paid to the firm and said the Assembly would demand a refund of the money, specifically raising concerns about the role of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc in releasing the funds.
