Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Osun chapter, has raised the alarm over what it described as desperate moves to allegedly hijack local government funds in the state despite subsisting court rulings.
At a press conference in Osogbo yesterday, the union recalled that council allocations had been withheld since February 2025, alleging that powerful interests were plotting to divert the money through “judicial manoeuvres.”
Addressing journalists, the state chairman of NULGE, Dr Nathaniel Kehinde Ogungbangbe, recollected that the Osun State government had, on May 12, 2025, approached the Federal High Court to protect the funds from being channelled to the sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors, whose removal had already been affirmed by competent courts.
According to him, although the Federal High Court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo, there were “attempts to illegally open accounts for the sacked officials until a June 13 ruling of the Court of Appeal halted the move.”
Ogungbangbe queried: “Now months later, 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?” He claimed that the urgency being canvassed by the defendants was self-created, noting that they were duly served since May, but chose not to act.
NULGE further faulted claims by the Attorney-General of the Federation’s office that court processes were not served, pointing out that the bailiff had already sworn to an affidavit of service, which stands as a public document.
The union insisted that the Court of Appeal had already ruled that the February 22, 2025, local government election in Osun State was valid, and that the removal of the APC officials remained legal, adding that there was no tenure left for the sacked chairmen and councillors.
“We smell a plot to use the Abuja vacation court to give through the back door 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 NULGE chairman declared.
He quoted Uthman Dan Fodio, saying: “Conscience is an open wound; only truth can heal it,” and Abraham Lincoln, who warned that “the hottest seat in hell is reserved for those who keep silent in the face of tyranny and oppression.”
NULGE urged the judiciary to resist pressure and refuse the application for vacation hearing, while also calling on Nigerians to remain vigilant.
“Any attempt to rob the people of Osun State, particularly our members, through legal shortcuts, will be resisted by all lawful means available,” Ogungbangbe warned.
Source: Guardian Newspapers
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