- Safiu Kehinde
The Osun State Government has accused the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, of alleged plans to pay the salaries of the sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) Local Government Chairmen and other officials from the withheld LG allocation.
Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), counsel to the state government, made the allegation in a letter addressed to the Minister.
In what he described as “a mockery of justice and an affront to the rule of law.” Adetunbi faulted the alleged plan to release the disputed funds into what he termed “illegal accounts.”
The legal counsel reminded the Minister that the validity of the withheld funds is already the subject of a pending case before the Supreme Court.
He insisted that proceeding with payment would amount to contempt of court.
Adetunbi cited earlier rulings of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which nullified the election of the APC council officials, noting that the chairmen and councillors have since been legally removed from office.
“If indeed you have written to Mr President to approve payment of the Local Government funds to these court-sacked APC officials before the determination of the dispute by the Apex Court, such action will not only ridicule the administration of justice but will also mock the authority of the President himself,” the letter read in part.
The Osun government’s counsel argued that the billions of naira currently withheld by the Federation belong to the people of the state across its 30 local councils, not “politicians who have been lawfully removed from office.”
He further warned that releasing the money under the present circumstances would set a dangerous precedent.
“Instead of seeking approval to do what is clearly wrong, we advise that your office should properly apprise Mr President of the true position of the law. These funds are meant for the well-being of Osun citizens, not as political settlement,” Adetunbi added.
The legal practitioner urged the finance minister to halt any further steps until the Supreme Court gives a final verdict on the matter.