The Osun State Government has expressed concern over reports that the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, wrote to President Bola Tinubu demanding the release of withheld local government funds to accounts allegedly operated by sacked council chairmen and councillors from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a letter dated September 24, 2025, and signed by the state’s counsel, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), the government asserted that such a move was inconceivable considering that there were still pending cases at the Supreme Court.
The letter reminded Edun that the state’s attorney general had already filed a case at the Supreme Court to challenge the seizure and proposed disbursement of the funds.
“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 authorize the release of funds, which are under legal dispute, to these court-sacked chairmen and councillors,” the letter read.
The state argued that releasing the funds before the court rules on the matter would undermine the principles of justice and the rule of law.
“If it is true that you have indeed written to Mr. President to approve payment of the Local Government funds to these court-sacked APC Chairmen and Councillors prior to the determination of the dispute between the parties across the divide by the Apex Court of the land, then such an action is not only a mockery of the administration of justice but also a mockery of all the authorities of the nation, including that of Mr. President himself,” the letter stated.
According to the government, judgments by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal have already removed the APC chairmen and councillors from office.
It stressed that the funds belong to the people of Osun and are meant to support farmers, market women, teachers, health workers, pensioners, and children, not politicians “lawfully sacked by the courts.”
The state urged the minister to ensure that Osun receives its monthly allocations through the State-Local Government Joint Account, as is done in other states.
The legal team also warned that releasing the money to the sacked officials would be “a grievous assault on the rule of law” and called on the minister to withdraw any letter already sent to the president.
“It is on record that, as of today, the Federation is in possession of tens of billions of naira belonging to the 30 Local Government Councils of Osun State.
“These billions, we repeat, are for the well-being of the people… not money that politicians can whimsically appropriate to settle political associates and followers,” the letter added.
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