An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan on Thursday dismissed an application filed by sacked local government chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, seeking to overturn an earlier order freezing disputed council funds held at the United Bank for Africa (UBA).
Justice Ladiran Akintola ruled that the former chairmen lacked the legal standing to challenge the court’s order, which was granted ex parte on September 26, 2025.
The dismissed chairmen, described in court documents as “Persons Affected,” had filed the application in Suit No. I/1149/2025: Attorney General of Osun State & Anor v. UBA PLC, praying the court to lift the freeze, arguing that it impeded governance across local councils and violated constitutional provisions.
In his ruling, Justice Akintola held that the chairmen had earlier withdrawn their application to be joined as parties to the case, effectively conceding that they had no legitimate claim to the funds.
“They are strangers to the suit and lack locus standi,” the judge ruled, stressing that their absence of a legally recognised interest barred them from seeking any relief.
“The withdrawal of their joinder motion by senior counsel amounts to a concession that they have no legal claim,” he added, before dismissing the application in its entirety.
Lead counsel for the Osun State Attorney General, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), appeared alongside E.Y. Ajayi and D.G. Egunjobi. Oluwatomiwa Fadeyi represented UBA.
Following the judgment, Adetunbi thanked the court for what he described as a “well-reasoned decision,” and informed the court of the state’s intention to obtain a clearer copy of the recent Supreme Court ruling in SC/CV/773/2025: Attorney General of Osun State v. Attorney General of the Federation to guide further legal steps.
Justice Akintola adjourned the case till December 18, 2025, for mention.