NULGE Accuses Federal Government of Illegally Diverting Osun LG Funds to Sacked APC Officials

 

By Oluwaseyi fadoro Osogbo

The leadership and members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Osun State chapter, have raised alarm over what they described as a “brazen abuse of power” by top officials of the Federal Government in the ongoing crisis rocking local government administration in the state.

Speaking at a press conference held in Osogbo on Sunday, the union accused the Minister of Finance, the Accountant General of the Federation, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of authorizing the release of local government allocations for Osun State — covering March to September 2025 — into allegedly illegal bank accounts operated by sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) local government chairmen and councillors.

NULGE described the development as “unprecedented, bizarre, and alarming,” alleging that the funds were paid into accounts opened with United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc without due process and in clear violation of court orders.

“This is unbelievable and frightening. Paying local government allocations into privately opened and illegal bank accounts of politicians defies all known norms of public administration in Nigeria,” the union stated.

The union reminded the public that both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal had effectively removed the affected APC officials from office, with new local government chairmen and councillors already elected and sworn in across the 30 local governments in the state.

“It is on record that the Federal High Court, on May 15, 2025, ordered all parties to maintain the status quo, an order which was acknowledged by the Central Bank of Nigeria as preventing any disbursement of funds. Despite this, allocations were secretly released to the illegal accounts,” NULGE alleged.

According to the union, the funds were disbursed at the behest of the three federal officers, even though a suit concerning the matter is currently pending before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, with a hearing scheduled for Monday, September 29, 2025.

They further criticized the Attorney General of the Federation for allegedly acting beyond his constitutional powers by supporting the reinstatement of sacked local government officials and facilitating the diversion of funds into accounts that they claim were “illegally opened with the active support of the Attorney General.”

“We are not politicians. We are career officers tasked with protecting the assets and interests of our councils. There are existing, legally recognized bank accounts for the 30 local governments. Why were new UBA accounts created in the names of these councils by politicians who have already been removed from office by competent courts?” the union queried.

NULGE accused the Attorney General of undermining the judiciary and acting in contempt of court, warning that no individual — regardless of office — is above the law.

“This is supposed to be a democracy governed by the rule of law. The Attorney General cannot usurp the powers of the Supreme Court or set aside judgments of the Court of Appeal,” the union stated.

The union also expressed fears that the actions of the federal authorities may be part of a broader plot to destabilize the state and pave the way for a declaration of a state of emergency in Osun.

“They want to create chaos, provoke anarchy, and use it as justification to call on Mr. President to declare a state of emergency in our state. But we appeal to all well-meaning citizens of Osun to resist this provocation and continue to uphold peace,” NULGE said.

In a show of support, the union commended Governor Ademola Adeleke for his commitment to peace and called on residents to maintain faith in the judiciary and divine justice.

“By the special grace of God, this cup shall soon pass,” they concluded.

The press conference underscores the deepening crisis between federal authorities and the Osun State government over the control and management of local government funds — a conflict now entangled in legal, political, a

nd constitutional controversies.

NULGE Accuses Federal Government of Illegally Diverting Osun LG Funds to Sacked APC Officials
By [Your Name], Osogbo | Sunday, September 28, 2025

The leadership and members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Osun State chapter, have raised alarm over what they described as a “brazen abuse of power” by top officials of the Federal Government in the ongoing crisis rocking local government administration in the state.

Speaking at a press conference held in Osogbo on Sunday, the union accused the Minister of Finance, the Accountant General of the Federation, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of authorizing the release of local government allocations for Osun State — covering March to September 2025 — into allegedly illegal bank accounts operated by sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) local government chairmen and councillors.

NULGE described the development as “unprecedented, bizarre, and alarming,” alleging that the funds were paid into accounts opened with United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc without due process and in clear violation of court orders.

“This is unbelievable and frightening. Paying local government allocations into privately opened and illegal bank accounts of politicians defies all known norms of public administration in Nigeria,” the union stated.

The union reminded the public that both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal had effectively removed the affected APC officials from office, with new local government chairmen and councillors already elected and sworn in across the 30 local governments in the state.

“It is on record that the Federal High Court, on May 15, 2025, ordered all parties to maintain the status quo, an order which was acknowledged by the Central Bank of Nigeria as preventing any disbursement of funds. Despite this, allocations were secretly released to the illegal accounts,” NULGE alleged.

According to the union, the funds were disbursed at the behest of the three federal officers, even though a suit concerning the matter is currently pending before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, with a hearing scheduled for Monday, September 29, 2025.

They further criticized the Attorney General of the Federation for allegedly acting beyond his constitutional powers by supporting the reinstatement of sacked local government officials and facilitating the diversion of funds into accounts that they claim were “illegally opened with the active support of the Attorney General.”

“We are not politicians. We are career officers tasked with protecting the assets and interests of our councils. There are existing, legally recognized bank accounts for the 30 local governments. Why were new UBA accounts created in the names of these councils by politicians who have already been removed from office by competent courts?” the union queried.

NULGE accused the Attorney General of undermining the judiciary and acting in contempt of court, warning that no individual — regardless of office — is above the law.

“This is supposed to be a democracy governed by the rule of law. The Attorney General cannot usurp the powers of the Supreme Court or set aside judgments of the Court of Appeal,” the union stated.

The union also expressed fears that the actions of the federal authorities may be part of a broader plot to destabilize the state and pave the way for a declaration of a state of emergency in Osun.

“They want to create chaos, provoke anarchy, and use it as justification to call on Mr. President to declare a state of emergency in our state. But we appeal to all well-meaning citizens of Osun to resist this provocation and continue to uphold peace,” NULGE said.

In a show of support, the union commended Governor Ademola Adeleke for his commitment to peace and called on residents to maintain faith in the judiciary and divine justice.

“By the special grace of God, this cup shall soon pass,” they concluded.

The press conference underscores the deepening crisis between federal authorities and the Osun State government over the control and management of local government funds — a conflict now entangled in legal, political, and constitutional controversies.