Latest News
Osun State Escalates Fight Against FG, Seeks Supreme Court Intervention Over Blocked Allocations
The ongoing dispute over local government control in Osun State has taken a new turn, as the state government has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government at the Supreme Court, accusing it of unlawfully withholding allocations intended for its local councils.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to court documents obtained by Tribune, the Osun State Government is demanding the immediate release of local government funds for February, March, and April 2025, which it alleges the Federal Government has wrongfully withheld. The status of the May allocation remains unresolved.
The suit, dated April 23, 2025, and bearing the case number SC/CV/379/2025, was filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Musibau Adetunbi, representing the Attorney General of Osun State. The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) is the sole defendant in the case.
In the originating summons submitted on April 24, the Osun government is urging the Supreme Court to compel the Federal Government to release the withheld funds and to issue an injunction preventing any further suspension or seizure of allocations meant for its local government areas.
The suit raises several legal questions, including:
-
Whether, under Sections 162(3), (5), (6), and (8) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and relevant court decisions (A.G. Lagos State v. A.G. Federation (2004) 18 NWLR (PART 904) 1 and A.G. Federation v. A.G. Abia State (2024) 17 NWLR (PART 1966) 1), the Federal Government can withhold, seize, or suspend payments due to local government councils without justification, despite the existence of democratically elected local governments in the plaintiff state.
-
Whether Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees the existence and continuity of democratically elected local councils across Nigeria, is violated by the Federal Government’s actions, as such withholding threatens the existence and governance of these councils and the state at large.
-
Whether the Federal Government can lawfully single out Osun State to withhold or suspend its local government allocations without any valid court order or justification, despite the state having democratically elected local councils throughout the period in question.
The Osun State Government is seeking the Supreme Court’s declaration that the Federal Government has no right to withhold, suspend, or seize local government funds without proper justification, particularly given the presence of democratically elected councils in Osun State during the relevant period.
A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Babachir Lawal, has insisted that the party will participate in the 2027 general elections regardless of the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has defended the presence of its officials at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) national convention, describing it as part of normal diplomatic engagement.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has said that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is free to join the ruling party at any time he chooses.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Yilwatda made the statement on Wednesday during a media chat in Abuja, stressing that membership of the APC is voluntary and not forced on anyone.
According to him, Wike remains at liberty to decide his political future, and there is no obligation for appointees to formally join the ruling party before serving in government.
“If he wants to join the APC, he is free. We don’t compel people to join; they do so willingly,” he said.
He added that cross-party appointments are not new in Nigeria’s political history, noting that past administrations also appointed members of opposition parties into key positions.
Yilwatda cited examples such as Bala Mohammed and Adamu Aliero, who served as ministers under PDP governments despite being affiliated with other parties at the time.
He questioned the criticism directed at President Bola Tinubu over Wike’s appointment, arguing that similar decisions were taken by previous administrations without controversy.
The APC chairman also pointed to other non-APC members serving in the current government, saying Wike should not be singled out.
He further stated that Wike obtained approval from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before accepting the ministerial appointment in 2023.
Yilwatda maintained that President Tinubu has continued to demonstrate openness by appointing individuals across party lines based on competence.
-
latest8 months ago“Social Media Erupts As Jim Iyke Declares Rita Dominic Nollywood’s Most Beautiful”
-
latest2 years agoEdo Political Showdown: Oshiomhole Appears At Presidential Villa As Tinubu Hands APC Gubernatorial Flag To Okpebholo (Photos & Video)
-
entertainment2 years agoLove Knows No Age American Woman Defends Marriage To Young Nigerian Man “I’m Not 70”
-
latest2 years agoOlumide Akpata Strikes Again: Drops Killer Track, Sends Edo State Into Frenzy!(Video)
-
Politics2 years agoNigerians React As Pastor Adeboye Foresees Passing Away On A Sunday After Enjoying A Satisfying Meal Of Pounded Yam
-
latest2 years agoFG Identifies 31 States At Risk Of Heavy Flooding In 2024: See Full List
-
Politics2 years agoBREAKING: Inspector-General Of Police Summons Top Police Commanders For Crucial-Security Challenges
-
latest2 years ago5 NYSC Corpers Perish In Fatal Road Accident Returning From Camp