By Tunde Olamilekan
The Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State has once again asked for the case it instituted over the withholding of local government allocations to be returned to a Federal High Court in Osogbo.
The PDP had initiated the suit to halt the release of the withheld local government allocations into accounts of Chairmen and Councillors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, but sacked by the court.
This was as the party frowned at the issuance of two letters purportedly from the office of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, which it said were signed by proxies.
The PDP equally accused the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) of turning the Federal High Court into an annex of his chamber.
The chairman of the PDP in Osun, Mr Sunday Bisi while addressing journalists on Thursday in Osogbo, alleged a deliberate attempt to erode judicial independence and impose political bias on courts.
He said, “Our position is clear: this matter must be returned to the regular Federal High Court in Osogbo. Any application for transfer must be made openly before the regular presiding judge. That is the law. Anything else is illegality.
Let us also state clearly that the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation is not innocent in this matter. The AGF has consistently disregarded the subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/103/2022 delivered on 30th November, 2022, which was affirmed by the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, in CA/AK/270/2025 delivered on 13th June, 2025. Instead of respecting these judgments, the AGF has been instigating manipulations against the people of Osun State and their duly elected PDP local government officials.
“Let me say this clearly: judicial powers can not be exercised by proxies or by personal assistants. They are reserved exclusively for judicial officers (judges). Unfortunately, that is the abnormal situation we are confronted with and which informed this press conference.
“In the 21st August letter, the office of the Chief Judge even suggested that the case would become “nugatory” if not heard during vacation. But that is a question of fact and law that must be determined in open court with all parties heard. For an administrative letter to prejudge the issue shows bias and prejudice, and compromises the independence of the judiciary.
“The abuse of power becomes even clearer when we note that the 2nd September letter was addressed directly to Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN, counsel to the 3rd Defendant (the Attorney-General of the Federation) at a time when that defendant had already been withdrawn from the matter and had ceased to be a party in the case. How can the office of the Chief Judge be writing letters to a party that had no proper process before the court? This is strange, bizarre, and deeply troubling.”
Follow the OSUNDOTLIFE channel on WhatsAppKindly share this story | All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from OSUNDOTLIFE.
Contact: editor@osun.life
WhatsApp: 📲 +2348092333666