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Osun must refund seven month’s LG allocations, AGF tells S’Court
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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A senior police officer attached to the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, CSP Ebong Thompson, rejected a bribe of N800,000 offered in an attempt to secure the release of a suspected armed robber and cover up the crime.
The spokesperson of the command, Timfon John, in a statement said the incident occurred on Wednesday, 30th July, 2025.
According to her, the prime suspect, 53-year-old David Samuel Isaac, was arrested after a Samsung smartphone, reportedly stolen at gunpoint, was traced to him.
Investigations revealed that Isaac is a repeat offender, having previously been arrested and charged to court for a similar offence last year. He reportedly returned to criminal activity shortly after being released.
The second suspect, Emmanuel Mendie Peter, was apprehended at the SWAT office while attempting to offer the N800,000 bribe to secure Isaac’s release.
“A police officer in charge of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, CSP Ebong Thompson, rejected N800,000 bribe offered to him on Wednesday, July 30, 2025,” the statement read.
“The money was intended to secure the release of an armed robbery suspect and also cover up the crime. The suspect, 53-year-old David Samuel Isaac, was arrested after a Samsung phone that was gotten at gun point was traced to him.
“Isaac has a history of similar offences as he was arrested and charged to court for similar crimes sometime last year but returned to criminal activities after his release.
“The other suspect, Emmanuel Mendie Peter was arrested after he brought the bribe to the SWAT office to secure the release of the main suspect. He was taken into custody after the offer was rejected.
“All officers concerned with this discreet investigation received a commendation letter from the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare.
“The CP, while addressing officers at the end of the month briefing, charged them to emulate the Distinguished officers.
“Members of the public are therefore warned to desist from compromising police investigation.”
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President Bola Tinubu has called on young Nigerians active in the digital media space to harness their platforms as instruments of national unity.
Speaking at the opening of the Progressives Digital Media Summit, themed ‘Unveiling the Critical Role of New Media in National Development,’ the President emphasised the importance of verifying information before amplifying it.
He urged the youth to serve as positive catalysts for societal development by building businesses that create employment and producing content that reflects unifying values.
“I urge you to continue using digital platforms to advance our nation’s progress. Build businesses that employ others. Create content that uplifts and unites. Use your influence to foster unity, not division.
Your generation has recognised this moment. You are using digital tools to innovate, educate, and demand accountability. But as your influence grows, so must our collective sense of purpose and responsibility” President Tinubu was quoted as saying in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga
The President commended the creativity and resilience of Nigeria’s youth, describing digital media as a driving force of economic and social transformation, rather than a mere accessory to life.
‘’From developing innovative platforms to building vibrant online communities, you are demonstrating the determination that is redefining what is possible for this country.
You are not waiting for the future; you are building it. Digital media is now a central driver of economic growth, civic engagement, and social change. It broadens representation for those previously unheard.”
The President, however, said his administration is committed to supporting digital innovation through the National Digital Innovation Fund and policies that promote a thriving startup ecosystem.
He also warned practitioners to remain vigilant against disinformation and cyber threats.
The summit convener, Segun Dada, said that in less than a decade, digital media had evolved from a tool of personal connection into a powerful engine for communication, innovation, and influence.
Dada, who is also the Special Assistant to the President on New Media, stressed the importance of harnessing this force for Nigeria’s good while managing inherent risks such as privacy concerns and threats to social cohesion.
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A grieving mother has opened up about the heartbreaking loss of her newborn baby due to complications worsened by her church’s strict doctrine against medical care.
In a now-viral narration, the lady explained that she was born into a church that forbids the use of medicine, medical intervention, or even routine hospital visits. Growing up under this belief, she never questioned it—until she got pregnant.
She shared that she refused antenatal care, took no multivitamins, and avoided the hospital completely because of her church’s teachings. But in her third trimester, she began to feel weak and sick.
Eventually, she defied her family and visited a doctor secretly, only to be diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication that required urgent hospitalization. When she informed her husband, he was furious she had gone against the church’s teachings. Her family and in-laws backed him, urging her to “have faith.”
Things took a turn for the worse when she fell unconscious one night. She was rushed to the hospital where doctors insisted on emergency surgery (C-section) due to her dangerously high blood pressure. Her husband initially refused medication but eventually allowed the procedure—though not without blame.
Tragically, her baby was born with multiple complications and had to be placed in NICU. After one month, the baby passed away.
Now, she says her husband and his family blame her for the loss, claiming it was due to her “lack of faith.” She, on the other hand, is questioning everything she was raised to believe and says she’s done with the church that cost her child’s life.
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