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Federal–State Clash: AGF Accuses Osun of Flouting Court Orders, Heads to Supreme Court
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has asked the Supreme Court to compel the Osun State Government to refund seven months of local government allocations, accusing the state of contempt of court and misappropriation of funds.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to reports, Fagbemi’s request was contained in a counter‑affidavit filed by his counsel, Akin Olujimi (SAN), in response to a suit earlier lodged by the Osun State Government over alleged non‑payment of statutory local government allocations.
The case, marked SC/CV/379/2025, was initiated by the Osun State Attorney General against the AGF as sole defendant, claiming that the Federal Government withheld the March 2025 allocation meant for the state’s 30 local government councils.
Osun alleged that the Minister of Finance, Wale Odun, admitted the funds were withheld on the AGF’s instructions. However, in a counter‑affidavit sworn to by Taye Oloyede, Special Assistant to the President on Legal Matters, the AGF denied issuing any such directive. Oloyede stated that the Finance Minister also denied the claim during a meeting on May 22, 2025, which he attended.
“Neither the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation nor the Minister of Finance gave any directive to withhold Osun’s LG allocations,” the affidavit read.
Oloyede explained that direct payment of local government funds requires states to submit verified account details to the Ministry of Finance—something Osun allegedly failed to do. He further claimed that Osun intended to channel LG funds into state‑level health and education programmes, in breach of the July 11, 2024 Supreme Court judgment that forbids state governments from spending local government allocations.
“This is a direct violation of the Supreme Court judgment which mandates that LG funds be paid and managed solely by LG councils,” Oloyede said.
Fagbemi also dismissed Osun’s reliance on the 2004 Lagos vs. FG precedent, saying it does not apply. He argued that Osun lacks legal standing to sue on behalf of local councils, especially since it has not shown proof of consent from the councils or evidence that their account details were submitted to federal authorities.
He pointed out that the officials currently running Osun’s councils were elected under the APC‑led administration and remain in office until October 2025.
Fagbemi reminded the apex court that a Federal High Court ruling previously secured by Osun had been overturned by the Court of Appeal, reaffirming that state governments must not control LG finances. He noted that Osun was defendant number 29 in the landmark July 2024 ruling ending state disbursement of LG funds, yet continued to receive and spend allocations between July 2024 and February 2025.
“This suit is a calculated attempt to use the Supreme Court as a shield to legitimise an ongoing act of disobedience,” Fagbemi stated.
He urged the Supreme Court to enforce its judgment by ordering Osun to refund all allocations collected in violation of the ruling:
“The only way to vindicate the authority of this court is to order the plaintiff to pay back all LG funds collected between July 2024 and February 2025. These should be remitted to the Minister of Finance for onward transfer to the respective local governments.”
In a five‑ground preliminary objection, the AGF argued:
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Osun is in contempt of court and not entitled to be heard.
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The state cannot appeal a Supreme Court decision.
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The matter does not raise a valid dispute for the court’s original jurisdiction under Section 232(1) of the Constitution.
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The state lacks locus standi to sue on behalf of LGs.
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Only LG councils themselves—not state governments—can seek redress over unpaid allocations.
Fagbemi maintained that Osun had arrogated to itself the role of “watchdog” over LG funds without lawful authority:
“If any LG has been wrongly deprived of its funds, it is the council itself—not the state government—that has the right to sue.”
Meanwhile, it was learnt that the Osun State Government has since filed to withdraw the suit. Olujimi confirmed the development but clarified that the matter remains in court until the withdrawal application is formally heard in September.
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The Bulldozers Are Coming! Kano Targets Azman University In Massive Illegal Property Crackdown.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has dismissed recent claims by 2027 presidential hopeful Peter Obi regarding Nigeria’s power generation goals. During an Arise Television interview, Onanuga clarified that Nigeria’s core electricity crisis stems from structural deficits—such as gas supply shortages, a $4 trillion legacy debt owed to suppliers, and an aging national grid—rather than a lack of generation capacity.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Onanuga noted that the nation already possesses an installed capacity of 13,500 megawatts, exceeding Obi’s promise to add 10,000 megawatts. He argued that the former governor lacks a clear understanding of the existing infrastructure limitations. Furthermore, Onanuga highlighted that the Tinubu administration is actively tackling these issues through the Electricity Act, which decentralizes power management, and the establishment of the Grid Asset Management Company Limited (GAMCO) to improve performance. He maintained that power generation has seen marked improvement since the current administration took office in May 2023.
President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Bayo Onanuga, has challenged Peter Obi’s pledge to increase Nigeria’s electricity generation by 10,000 megawatts within four years. In a recent interview, Onanuga stated that Obi’s plan ignores the reality that Nigeria’s installed capacity is already 13,500 megawatts—a figure that remains underutilized due to structural failures.
Onanuga identified the country’s primary obstacles as an outdated national grid, chronic gas supply issues, and a massive legacy debt of over ₦4 trillion owed to gas companies. He asserted that the current administration is addressing these systemic problems through legislative reforms, specifically citing the Electricity Act, which allows states to manage their own power generation, transmission, and distribution. Onanuga concluded that electricity output has already trended upward since May 2023 and that the government’s focus remains on optimizing existing assets rather than merely chasing higher capacity targets.
Bayo Onanuga is pushing back against Peter Obi’s recent promise to boost Nigeria’s power supply by 10,000 megawatts. According to President Tinubu’s spokesperson, the real issue isn’t a lack of capacity, but a broken system.
Onanuga pointed out that Nigeria already has 13,500 megawatts of installed capacity, most of which sits idle due to three main roadblocks:
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The Grid: Outdated infrastructure that cannot handle current demands.
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Gas Supply: A crippling lack of fuel for power plants.
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Legacy Debt: A massive ₦4 trillion debt pile-up owed to gas suppliers.
Onanuga credited the Tinubu administration with tackling these hurdles head-on, specifically through the new Electricity Act that empowers states to generate and distribute their own power. He insists that the sector is already performing better than it was in May 2023 and that the focus is on fixing the structural bottlenecks, not just expanding capacity.
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Court Orders Probe Of Leaked Video In Alleged Coup Plot Trial
On Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja initiated an investigation into the unauthorized release of a video linked to the ongoing trial of six individuals accused of conspiring to topple President Bola Tinubu’s government.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Investigation into the Leaked Video
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Court Directive: Following a complaint from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), regarding a video statement that surfaced on the social media platform of influencer “VeryDarkMan” despite a court-imposed restriction, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to conduct an inquiry.
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National Security Concerns: The DPP characterized the leak as a national security risk that prejudices the ongoing judicial proceedings, noting the video had already surpassed 6,000 views.
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Defense Stance: While defense counsel denied involvement in the leak, they held varying views on a probe; some welcomed an investigation, while others, like Sanusi Musa (SAN), cautioned against acting without formal evidence.
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Judicial Ruling: Invoking Section 232(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Justice Abdulmalik mandated the DSS to identify and bring any responsible parties before the court, noting that such prosecution would be handled separately from the main coup trial.
Trial Testimony and Bail Proceedings
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Witness Testimony: A prosecution witness, an Army officer codenamed “DDD,” testified that the investigation was conducted by a multi-agency team—including the Army, DSS, DIA, and EFCC—and explicitly denied that the defendants were chained, coerced, or tortured during interrogation.
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Defense Challenges: During cross-examination, defense lawyers challenged the interrogation process, specifically noting the absence of family members or legal representation during the suspects’ questioning; however, the witness stated no such requests were made by the defendants.
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Bail Applications: The court heard bail arguments from the defense, which the DPP opposed; Justice Abdulmalik has reserved her ruling on these applications and adjourned the trial-within-trial for the first three defendants until June 25 and June 30.
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No Mercy! US Authorities Deport Nigerian Over “Violent Crimes” & Abuse Allegations!.
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Deportation of Nigerian National: A Nigerian citizen named Ayodeji Ajayi has been deported from the United States following a series of criminal convictions, which include domestic violence.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
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Immigration Status: According to a statement released by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on their official account, Ajayi had been living in the US illegally for nearly two decades after failing to depart the country following the expiration of his student visa.
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Criminal History: ICE reported that after abandoning his studies, Ajayi amassed a significant criminal record that includes convictions for domestic violence, trespassing, intimidation, and obstruction. Furthermore, his record includes charges involving kidnapping, rape, and family neglect.
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Administrative Context: ICE attributed the removal of Ajayi to the immigration enforcement policies of President Donald Trump, noting the administration’s commitment to deporting criminal undocumented immigrants.
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Missing Details: While the agency confirmed the deportation, they did not specify when it occurred, nor did they provide additional details regarding the jurisdictions of the convictions or the current status of his pending criminal charges.
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Policy Enforcement: This action reflects the ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to intensify enforcement and increase the number of removals of undocumented individuals with criminal backgrounds across the United States.
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