The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed September 22 for the hearing of pending applications in a suit filed by the Osun State Government against the Federal Government over the alleged refusal to release local government allocations.
At Monday’s proceedings, Justice Emeka Nwite set the date after counsel representing the parties confirmed the existence of multiple applications already before the court.
Osun Government’s Position
Counsel to the Osun State Attorney General, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), told the court that the state had filed two key motions. The first challenges the transfer of the case from the Osogbo Division of the Federal High Court to Abuja, while the second seeks to discontinue proceedings against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), listed as the third defendant.
Adetunbi explained that Osun intends to pursue a fresh suit at the Supreme Court (SC/CV/773/2025) against the AGF, alleging that the AGF attempted to pay allocations directly to sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors in the state. According to him, the officials in question had already been removed from office by a High Court judgment, which was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal.
Federal Government’s Response
Counsel to the AGF, Akin Olujimi (SAN), argued that his client had not been served with the notice of discontinuance and urged the court to proceed with its business unless it decided otherwise.
Lawyer to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muritala Abdulrasheed (SAN), confirmed that the AGF requested the matter be handled expeditiously by a vacation judge. He said the CBN, listed as the first defendant, had filed seven sets of documents, including objections to Osun’s motions.
Similarly, counsel to the Accountant General of the Federation (AG-F), Tajudeen Oladoja (SAN), who is the second defendant, argued that the case should be heard promptly during the vacation period to prevent it from becoming academic.
Substantive Suit
In the substantive case, the Osun State Government is seeking an order restraining the CBN from opening accounts or releasing allocations to APC chairmen elected in 2022, insisting they were lawfully removed by valid court orders.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter to September 22 for the hearing of all pending motions filed by the parties.