The Osun State government has cautioned Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, against seeking presidential approval for the release of withheld local government funds into accounts operated by sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors in the state.
The government described the move as a violation of the rule of law, citing ongoing litigation at the Supreme Court over the disputed funds, which run into tens of billions of naira meant for the state’s 30 local government councils.
Letter to the Finance Minister
In a letter signed by Musibau Adetunbi, counsel to the Osun State government, and addressed to the Minister of Finance, the state accused Edun of attempting to bypass judicial proceedings by writing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approval.
“It is inconceivable that you would ask His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to authorise the release of funds, which are under legal dispute, to these court-sacked chairmen and councillors,” the letter stated.
The counsel stressed that such an action would “mock the administration of justice” and undermine both the judiciary and the president’s authority.
Court Rulings and Pending Litigation
The Osun government highlighted that both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal had removed the APC chairmen and councillors from office, and those judgments remain unchallenged.
It argued that while the matter is still pending before the Supreme Court, any attempt to release funds to the sacked officials would amount to “a grievous assault on the rule of law.”
Funds Belong to the People
The letter emphasized that the withheld billions belong to the people of Osun State, not politicians.
“These billions, we repeat, are for the wellbeing of the people, not money that politicians can whimsically appropriate to settle political associates and followers,” the counsel wrote.
The funds, according to the state, are meant to cover salaries and benefits for teachers, health workers, pensioners, and other essential government services.
Call for Fairness
The government urged the finance minister to ensure that Osun councils are treated fairly, just like their counterparts in the other 35 states who continue to receive monthly allocations through the state-local government joint accounts.
Finally, the legal team appealed to Edun to withdraw any letter already sent to President Tinubu on the matter and to “allow the court to discharge its duties unhindered.”
