LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has declared that his administration will pursue every lawful avenue to recover local government funds withheld by the Federal Government.
Speaking on the matter, Adeleke maintained that there is neither constitutional nor legal basis for the seizure of the allocations, stressing that local councils in the state are entitled to their statutory share of national revenue.
The governor’s stance has drawn strong support from key institutions, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Osun State Council of Obas. Both bodies, in separate letters and reports, affirmed that the local government elections held in the state on February 22, 2025, produced validly elected chairmen and councillors who remain the legitimate occupants of office.
RRAD ALSO:Osun APC Rejected Adeleke’s Move To Defect – Says Party Chieftain
In a bid to enforce its claim, the Osun State Government has instituted a suit at the Supreme Court against the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The case seeks a judicial declaration that the withholding of funds is illegal and unconstitutional, alongside an injunction restraining the Federal Government from further deductions or seizures.
The suit also demands the immediate release of all allocations already withheld.
Governor Adeleke underscored that his government’s actions are rooted in adherence to due process and the supremacy of the rule of law.
He referenced previous judicial pronouncements, particularly the ruling of the Court of Appeal on June 13, 2025, which upheld the legitimacy of the state’s local government leadership and their right to statutory allocations.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s determination to safeguard the financial autonomy of the councils, describing the move as essential for grassroots development and the delivery of democracy dividends across Osun State.