The Osun State House of Assembly on Saturday accused individuals whose local government elections were nullified by courts of competent jurisdiction of illegally disrupting local government administration, unlawfully occupying council secretariats, and diverting local government allocations, warning banks and public institutions of severe legal consequences for disobeying the law.
Addressing a press conference at the House of Assembly Complex in Osogbo, lawmakers said their action was driven by a “deep sense of responsibility and urgency,” stressing that the Assembly could not remain silent while actions that undermine the rule of law, democratic governance, and grassroots welfare persist in the state.
The Assembly stated that the legislative authority of State Houses of Assembly to regulate local government administration, financial controls, and accountability is expressly recognised under Section 7 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It added that the financial autonomy granted to local governments by the Supreme Court does not negate or override Section 7 of the Constitution.
Lawmakers expressed grave concern that individuals whose elections were nullified by the courts, and whose self-awarded tenure allegedly expired by effluxion of time on October 22, 2025, continue to unlawfully occupy local government secretariats and interfere with local government finances. According to the House, these individuals have no legal mandate and are not recognised by the law, the courts, or the Constitution.
Alleged Disbursement of Funds
The House specifically accused Mr Gboyega Oyetola of unlawfully directing the disbursement of local government funds in Osun State. It stated that Mr Oyetola, identified as a nephew of President Bola Tinubu, has no constitutional, statutory, or moral authority to control local government funds, issue instructions on such funds, influence banks, or direct security agencies in matters relating to local government administration.
The Assembly stressed that being related to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not confer legal authority over local government affairs, noting that Nigeria is governed by laws and not family ties.
According to the lawmakers, credible information before the House indicates that large sums of local government funds were allegedly paid under the directive of Mr Oyetola. These include:
- ₦25 million paid to each of the 30 allegedly illegal APC local government chairmen;
- ₦12 million paid to each of the 30 allegedly illegal APC local government vice chairmen;
- ₦10 million paid to each of the 332 allegedly illegal APC local government councillors;
- ₦130 million paid to each of selected traditional rulers in Osun State; and
- ₦13 billion paid as legal fees to Layonu and Co., lawyers representing the allegedly illegal chairmen and councillors, said to represent 15 per cent of deposited funds.
The House alleged that local government funds were illegally used to pay lawyers who represented the APC chairmen and councillors in their private capacities, stressing that the lawyers were not engaged by the local governments.
The Assembly further demanded that Mr Gboyega Oyetola explain why ₦13 billion was allegedly authorised for payment to Layonu and Co. from local government funds, describing the action as criminal and stating that it would demand a full refund of the money from United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA).
Salaries Allegedly Unpaid
The House stated that despite the alleged disbursements, not one naira has reportedly been paid as salaries in the last 12 months by the allegedly illegal APC local government chairmen to local government workers. According to the Assembly, unpaid groups include primary school teachers, nurses and other healthcare workers, local government civil servants, retirees, and traditional rulers not favoured by Mr Gboyega Oyetola.
Lawmakers also claimed that reports before the House indicate plans to allegedly disburse an additional ₦50 billion of local government funds for political purposes, allegedly disguised as project funds, while governance at the grassroots continues to suffer.
The Assembly warned that it would not tolerate the diversion of public funds meant for salaries, healthcare, education, and community development to fund the election of any politician in Osun State.
Warning to Banks
The House placed on record that it had written repeatedly to commercial banks, including UBA Plc, to clarify the law governing local government accounts in Osun State. It stated that under existing state laws and regulations, only career officers duly appointed through the Local Government Service Commission — including Directors of Finance and Directors of Administration and General Services — are lawful signatories to local government accounts.
It warned that politicians elected as chairmen, councillors, treasurers, or political appointees are forbidden from being signatories to local government accounts.
The Assembly cautioned that any bank that releases local government funds on the instructions of unauthorised persons acts unlawfully and exposes itself and its officers to criminal liability, stressing that illegal disbursement of public funds amounts to fraud.
The House warned UBA Plc that all illegal disbursements of Osun State local government funds, whether allegedly authorised by Mr Gboyega Oyetola or any other individual, would be fully recovered and treated as deliberate complicity in financial crime. It added that any funds already disbursed on such alleged instructions would be regarded as a gift to Mr Oyetola and would not be deducted from local government accounts.
The Assembly commended the Governor of Osun State for sustaining the payment of salaries to primary school teachers, nurses, healthcare workers, and local government civil servants over the past 12 months, despite what it described as the illegal withholding of local government allocations by UBA Plc on the alleged instructions of Mr Oyetola.
Lawmakers said the sacrifice demonstrated responsible leadership but warned that it must not become an excuse for the criminal diversion of funds meant for local government salaries.
The House concluded by affirming that Osun State belongs to its people and that the welfare of workers, traditional institutions, and citizens must not be sacrificed for political interests, insisting that no individual, bank, or political interest is above the law.
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