Osun Criss: NULGE Accuses AGF of Plot to Divert LG Funds

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Osun State has accused the office of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of an attempt to divert the local government allocations of the state to Wong hands.

The body of council workers claimed that Lateef Fagbemi had approached the court with an application of urgency for the court to hurriedly hear the matter with a view to making the funds available to “the sacked chairmen APC” in the state.

Addresing a press conference in Osogbo on Monday, Osun NULGE President Kehinde Ogungbangbe called on the judiciary to stand firm, to resist pressure and to refuse Fagbemi’s application for vacation hearing.

He recalled that the Attorney-General of Osun State had approached the Federal High Court to restrain the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Accountant-General of the Federation and others from diverting the funds to the sacked All Progressives Congress chairmen and councilors, whose removal has already been affirmed by competent courts of law.

“On 12th May, 2025, the Osun State Government filed its case before the Federal High Court, seeking an order to protect these funds for the benefit of the people. The Court, in its wisdom, ordered all parties to maintain the status quo. Despite this clear order, we were shocked to discover that attempts were made to open accounts for these sacked officials in order to illegally divert allocations. It took public outcry and the ruling of the Court of Appeal on 13th June, 2025, to stop this brazen act of impunity.

“Now months later, the 3rd Defendant – the Office of the Chief Law Officer of the Federation – has suddenly woken up, crying “urgency” and demanding that this matter be rushed and heard in Abuja during the Court vacation. We ask: Why the rush? Why Abuja? Why now?

“This so-called urgency is nothing but a self-created urgency. The defendants have been served since 16 May, 2025, yet they failed to act. Only the Central Bank filed a late response; the others did nothing. For them to now turn around in August to cry urgency is an insult to justice and due process.
It is particularly sad to note that despite the fact that the Court bailiff swore to an affidavit of service of these processes on the defendants, including the Attorney-General of the Federation, his office, in their affidavit of urgency, lied by claiming that they were not served. Fortunately, the bailiff is an officer of the court and his affidavit of service is a public document.

“The Court of Appeal has already spoken. It ruled unequivocally that the February 22”, 2025, Local Government Election in Osun State remains the valid Election. It affirmed the removal of those APC Officials. In simple terms: there is no valid tenure for the sacked Chairmen and Councilors. So what is left to be heard urgently?

“Fellow Nigerians, we smell a plot. A plot to use the Abuia vacation court to give through the backdoor what the Court of Appeal has already denied. But we say today: Justice cannot be ambushed. The people of Osun State will not allow their resources to be stolen under the cover of judicial manoeuvres.

“The funds in question belong to the Local Governments and by extension, to the ordinary people of Osun State. Hearing this matter at its originally scheduled time wil not deprive our people of their money. But rushing it now, during vacation, raises suspicious that certain powerful interests are desperate to subvert the will of the people and the judgment of the Courts.

“As the great Uthman Dan Fodio said, “Conscience is an open wound; only truth can heal it”. The truth here is clear: there is no urgency. There is only an attempt to pervert justice. Abraham Lincoln also said “The hottest seat in hell is reserved for those who keep silent in the face of tyranny and oppression”. As a Union we must speak out, we can’t keep silent and be watching the down trodden of Osun State being oppressed.

“We, therefore, call on the judiciary to stand firm, to resist pressure and to refuse this application for vacation hearing. We call on all Nigerians to remain vigilant. And we warn: any attempt to rob the people of Osun State, particularly our members, through legal shortcuts will be resisted by all lawful means available,” Ogungbangbe, who was flanked by the Osun Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress and other executive officials of NULGE, said.