The Osun State Government has withdrawn its suit against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamsedeen Ogunjimi, which sought to prevent the release of withheld local government funds to council chairmen and councillors sacked by the courts during the tenure of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
Naijaonpoint reports that the decision was made on Friday in a Federal High Court, where Musibau Adetumbi, SAN, the counsel representing the Osun government, informed the court that the purpose of the suit had been overtaken by events, as the disputed funds had already been released by the CBN.
Speaking to the court, Adetumbi stated, “On September 29, 2025, I told the court our aim was to safeguard the money. Between then and now, the money was moved out of the CBN.”
Adetumbi further explained that even if the court-sacked local government officials from the All Progressives Congress (APC) had tenure, it had already lapsed by Wednesday, October 16, 2025.
The counsel for the defendants, Muritala Abdulrasheed and Tajudeen Oladoja, did not oppose the withdrawal of the case but raised concerns over the plaintiff’s affidavit.
Abdulrasheed argued that some statements in the affidavit were “damaging” to individuals not party to the case and urged the court to expunge paragraphs five to eleven of the affidavit, claiming the grounds for discontinuance were presented “in bad faith.”
On the other hand, Oladoja did not object to the withdrawal but disagreed with the plaintiff’s assertion that the money had been paid, stating that the Accountant-General of the Federation had not been given a chance to respond. Oladoja also sought ₦10 million in costs, citing the time wasted in court proceedings.
In response, Adetumbi emphasised that under Federal High Court Rules, a notice of discontinuance does not attract costs, arguing that the defendants had not filed any processes before the court.
The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, adjourned the case until October 29, 2025, to rule on the application for discontinuance and the related issues raised by the defendants.
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