The Osun State Government has filed an application to the Federal High Court, Lagos, asking the court to set aside the ex parte order that placed restrictions on bank accounts operated by the Osun State Government over a $13.9 million arbitration award in favour of Gamji Nigeria Company Limited.
The government, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, also reassured the public that necessary legal action had commenced to vacate the order and ensure the due rights of the state were observed by judicial review of the Arbitration Award.
It would be recalled that the court ordered commercial banks to place a “Post No Debit” restriction on bank accounts operated by the state government.
Justice D.E. Osiagor issued the interim order following an application filed by Gamji through its counsel, Yunus AbdulSalam, SAN, in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/1233/2026.
But Alimi, in the statement, declared that the order “was a product of deceit and substantial non-disclosure of material facts to the court; the arbitration award it sought to enforce was also fraught with several irregularities.”
He said the development prompted the state government’s legal team “to approach the High Court of Lagos State to set aside the award.”
The statement further read, “In fact, it was reported that the purported award which the ex parte order of 9th September, 2026 referenced, does not exist as there was no arbitral award made against the state government in July 2024.
“The only arbitral award against the state government was in July 2026, and the said award is presently being challenged before the Lagos State High Court by the state government’s legal team.”
According to the government, the 2017 contract dispute started under the administration of ex-Governor Adegboyega Oyetola,
It further said the then administration denied a variation request by Gamji, particularly as it relates to whether the Osun State Government was indebted to the company to the tune of $15,982,638. 22, or not.
“The matter proceeded for arbitration, which was deliberately mismanaged and handled to favour Gamji Nig. Co. Ltd., while denying the State Government a fair hearing and full participation in the arbitration process as mandated by best practice in the arbitration process. The irregularities that characterised the arbitration proceedings and the final arbitral award are matters which have been submitted by the State Government to the High Court sitting in Lagos State.
“The Counsel to the State Government had filed the suit to set aside the Arbitral Award at the Lagos State High Court since the 1st day of September, 2026 – prior to the time when Gamji Nig. Co. Ltd. surreptitiously approached the Federal High Court to deceitfully procure an ex parte order. Alongside the originating motion used to commence the suit in Lagos State, a motion on notice was equally filed to suspend the execution of the Award until the suit is heard and determined.
“Both the originating motion and the motion on notice were duly served on Gamji and its Counsel; as such, they were fully aware that the award was being challenged by the State Government. To the greatest chagrin of the Osun State Government and its legal team, Gamji Nig. Co. Ltd., despite receiving the originating motion and motion on notice filed before the Lagos State High Court to suspend execution of the award, furtively approached the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State to enforce the award – the same award that was being challenged by the State Government’s legal team before a Court of competent jurisdiction,” the statement read.
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