WITHHELD LG FUNDS: SUPREME COURT STRIKES OUT OSUN'S SUIT
— ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) December 5, 2025
The Supreme Court has delivered a split decision in the case over withheld Osun State local government funds.
By a majority of six justices to one, the apex court on Friday struck out the suit filed by the Attorney… pic.twitter.com/DT1wuXmeAu
WITHHELD LG FUNDS: SUPREME COURT STRIKES OUT OSUN’S SUIT
The Supreme Court has delivered a split decision in the case over withheld Osun State local government funds.
By a majority of six justices to one, the apex court on Friday struck out the suit filed by the Attorney General of Osun State against the Attorney General of the Federation.
The court ruled that the Osun Attorney General had no legal right to institute the case on behalf of the state’s 30 local governments. It held that only duly elected and inaugurated local government officials have the jurisdiction to sue or be sued directly.
In its judgment, however, the Supreme Court also declared that the Federal Government was wrong to withhold local government funds, describing the action as a grave breach of the 1999 Constitution and its recent decision granting full financial autonomy to the local councils.
Justice Mohammed Idris, who delivered the lead judgment, said the Federal Government’s hands were “soiled” by the unlawful seizure of funds and admonished it to ensure allocations are paid directly into local government accounts.
The court dismissed contempt allegations raised by the AGF against Osun, noting instead that the Federal Government was in greater contempt by failing to release the funds as required by law.
Justice Idris added that since there was no evidence the Osun Attorney General had been formally briefed by the local governments, he ought not to have filed the case on their behalf.
In a minority judgment, Justice Emmanuel Agim disagreed with the majority, holding that the Osun Attorney General did have the right to bring the case. He condemned the Federal Government’s withholding of funds, warning that it was capable of crippling the activities of local councils.