The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed September 29 to hear a motion by the Osun State Government challenging the jurisdiction of the court in a suit over withheld local government funds.
At Monday’s proceedings, the state argued that the case should be returned to the Osogbo Division since the Abuja vacation court that initially handled it ended on September 16. Lead counsel Musibau Adetunbi (SAN) also questioned the validity of a letter purportedly from the Chief Judge’s office directing that the case be determined in Abuja, describing it as improperly signed by an unauthorized person.
However, lawyers representing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation opposed the application, insisting it was a delay tactic. They warned that the tenure of the APC local government chairmen involved in the dispute expires on October 22, which could render the case academic.
Justice Emeka Nwite ruled that the jurisdictional objections would be addressed first before the substantive matter. He also struck out the Attorney General of the Federation as a defendant, following the plaintiff’s withdrawal of the claim against him.
The suit, filed by Osun Attorney General Oluwole Jimi-Bada, seeks to restrain the CBN and the Accountant General from opening or operating accounts for APC local government chairmen elected in 2022, who the state maintains were sacked by a subsisting court judgment.
