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Osun must refund seven month’s LG allocations, AGF tells S’Court

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The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has urged the Supreme Court to compel Osun State Government to refund seven months’ local government allocations to the Minister of Finance.

The request was contained in a response filed through Fagbemi’s counsel, Chief Akin Olujimi SAN, to a suit instituted by the government via its attorney general.

Osun had sued the AGF as the sole defendant, alleging that the Federal Government failed to release the statutory allocation due to its 30 local government councils for March 2025.

In the suit marked SC/CV/379/2025, the state government claimed that whenit queried the Ministry of Finance over the unpaid allocation, the Minister of Finance, Wale Odun, allegedly said he was acting under the AGF’s directive.

However, the AGF denied the claim, challenging the legitimacy of the suit, accusing the state government of contempt for allegedly disobeying a July 11, 2024, Supreme Court judgment.

Fagbemi argued that Osun’s reliance on the 2004 case of AG Lagos State v. AG Federation—where the Supreme Court ordered the release of withheld funds to Lagos State—was misplaced.

In a counter-affidavit deposed by the Special Assistant to the President, Taye Oloyede, the AGF insisted that neither he nor the Minister of Finance instructed the withholding of Osun’s LG funds.

Oloyede testified that on May 22, 2025, in his presence, the Minister of Finance denied ever receiving such instructions.

According to the affidavit, Osun State never alleged that the President issued an order, nor did it provide evidence that the LG funds were deliberately withheld.

Oloyede emphasised that direct payment of allocations to LGs requires only that they submit account details to the Ministry of Finance.

He claimed the individuals currently administering Osun’s LGs were elected under the previous APC-led state government and remain in office until October 2025.

He asserted that Osun failed to show that its LGs had submitted their account details to the Finance Ministry.

Oloyede further argued that the plaintiff failed to show that it had the legal authority or consent of the LGs to initiate the lawsuit.

Instead, the affidavit indicated Osun’s intention to use the LG allocations to fund state-level health and education initiatives—directly contravening the Supreme Court’s judgment prohibiting states from managing LG finances.

He also pointed out that an earlier Federal High Court ruling in favour of the Osun State Governor had been overturned by the Court of Appeal.

Fagbemi insisted the Osun State Government was in contempt of the July 11, 2024, Supreme Court order in AGF v. Attorney General of Abia State & Others, which ruled that LG allocations must be paid directly to LG councils and not through state governments.

The order barred states from collecting or disbursing LG funds. Osun, listed as Defendant 29 in that suit, had acknowledged the order but allegedly continued to receive and spend LG funds from July 2024 to February 2025.

The AGF described Osun’s lawsuit as a calculated attempt to gain the Supreme Court’s backing to continue violating its own ruling.

He called it an “egregious contempt” and asked the court to enforce judicial accountability.

“The only way to vindicate the authority of this court,” he stated, “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 that: “The plaintiff is not entitled to be heard due to contempt. The plaintiff has no right of appeal against the Supreme Court’s decision. The case does not present a genuine dispute to trigger the court’s original jurisdiction under Section 232(1) of the Constitution. The plaintiff has no locus standi to sue on behalf of local governments. Only LGs—not state governments—can seek redress for unpaid allocations. The AGF stressed that Osun State had improperly appointed itself as a ‘watchdog’ over LG funds, despite having no authority to litigate on their behalf.

“If any LG has been wrongly deprived of its funds,” he concluded, “it is the council itself—not the state government—that has the right to sue.”

Meanwhile, it was gathered that Osun State government has withdrawn the suit. However, Olujimi, who confirmed this, said the suit remains in court until the application for withdrawal is formally heard by the court in September.

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VIDEO: Defence Minister backs Naval officer A.M Yarima over viral clash with Wike

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Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has praised Lieutenant Yarima, the naval officer involved in a confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over a disputed land in Abuja.

The property is said to belong to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo.

Government Promises Protection for Officers on Lawful Duty

Addressing journalists at the National Defence College, Abuja, during a press briefing on the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Celebration, Badaru reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to defending military personnel performing their lawful duties.

He said, “At the Ministry and across the Armed Forces, we will always protect our officers performing their duties lawfully. Lieutenant Yarima has acted commendably, and we will ensure his safety.

“We are thoroughly reviewing this matter, and I assure you that any officer performing legitimate duties will receive full protection.”

Viral Video Sparks Public Reactions

Badaru’s comments come after a viral video captured a heated argument between Wike and a naval officer at a construction site in Gaduwa District, Abuja.

In the video, Wike accused the officer of blocking his access to the site, stressing that no one is above the law. The officer, however, maintained that he was following orders from his superiors.

The incident has since generated widespread public debate, with many Nigerians commending the officer’s calmness during the encounter.

Source: GISTREEL

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Retired police officer offers viral navy officer, Yerima part of his pension

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‎A retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sunny Anyanwu, has made a generous offer to Lieutenant Ahmad Yerima, the viral naval officer who stood up to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

‎Notably, Ahmad Yerima has been making headlines following a viral video showing a heated confrontation with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Lieutenant A.M. Yerima

‎Retired Officer Offers His Pension To Lieutenant Ahmad Yerima

‎In his Facebook post, the retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sunny Anyanwu, revealed he earns a monthly pension of N49,000, and offered N5,000 to the naval officer.

‎Furthermore, he stressed that Lieutenant Ahmad Yerima should be regarded as a British-trained officer.

‎Read Post Below…..

Out of my #49k monthly pension, I have decided to offer #5K to the Naval officer that had open confrontation with the FCT minister WIKE.

‎ The officer could be regarded as a British trained officer. I will also advice President Tinubu to honor him with the award of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).

‎ His Bank details should be forwarded through his department pls. This is the type of insult I took for 35yrs and gets #49k monthly pension.

See below…..

Source: GISTREEL

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Wike’s altercation with the Naval officer is a typical example coming out of a disgraced country – Peter Obi

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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has described the recent altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer in Abuja as an embarrassment coming from a ‘disgraced nation.’

In a statement shared on social media, Obi said the altercation was “yet another unfortunate reflection of the growing institutional disorder in our country.”

According to him, what should have been a routine civic encounter degenerated into “a public spectacle” that exposes deeper governance problems.

He wrote;

‘’Wike versus Naval Officer: A Lesson for National Reflection

The recent needless altercation between the FCT Minister, HE, Barr. Nyesom Wike and a Naval officer are yet another unfortunate reflection of the growing institutional disorder in our country. What should ordinarily be a routine civic encounter has, once again, become a national embarrassment— a typical example coming out of a ‘disgraced country’

Beyond the personalities involved, this incident raises fundamental questions that demand honest national reflection:

Should the military be used for purely civil operations? If proper protocols were in place, should a Minister’s intervention in such a matter be in such an indecorous manner?

Shouldn’t there be clear boundaries between administrative authority and the duties of security agencies?

What does this say about our respect for institutions and the separation of powers? Why are our men and women in uniform so often drawn into civilian disputes? Why has the culture of due process and civility given way to public spectacle and confrontation? If our institutions worked as they should, would tempers flare in situations that should be handled by clear procedure and hierarchy? Above all, what example do incidents like this set for our younger generation about leadership, discipline, and the rule of law?

These are not just questions about one incident – they go to the very heart of how our nation is governed. When public officials act beyond institutional norms, and when security agencies are used in ways that blur their professional boundaries, we weaken both governance and public trust.

We must learn from this episode. It is time to rebuild a nation where institutions are stronger than individuals; where public office is exercised with humility and restraint; where the dignity of our uniformed officers and the rights of every citizen are upheld.

A country that aspires to greatness and feels insulted when referred to as a disgraced nation must replace the culture of impunity with the discipline of law, order, and respect for due process.

Repeatedly, I have maintained that to occupy an office and be referred to as His Excellency, Distinguished or Honourable, how we get to such an office and our character and behaviour while holding it or out of it should reflect such exemplary titles in all ramifications.”

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