Abuja, July 26, 2025 — The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has approached the Supreme Court, seeking an order to compel the Osun State Government to return local government funds allegedly misapplied over a seven-month period.
In the originating summons filed at the apex court, the AGF contends that the Osun State Government under Governor Ademola Adeleke unlawfully took over the statutory functions of elected local governments between December 2022 and June 2023. This, according to the AGF, includes withholding and spending federal allocations meant for the 30 constitutionally recognized local government councils in the state.
The suit, filed in the public interest, forms part of a broader effort by the Federal Government to enforce constitutional compliance in local governance and curb what it described as persistent state interference in local government administration nationwide.
The AGF is urging the Supreme Court to declare Osun’s actions as unconstitutional and to order the immediate refund of all allocations disbursed to the state’s joint account during the said period. He also wants the court to compel the state to henceforth ensure full financial and administrative autonomy for its local councils.
The move follows the Federal Government’s recent legal action seeking to protect the autonomy of local governments across Nigeria, in line with Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Osun State is among the 36 states joined in the broader suit.
While the Osun State Government is yet to issue an official response, legal observers say the case could set a significant precedent for the operation and independence of local government systems in Nigeria.
