Osun NULGE Accuses AGF of Attempting to Hijack Seized LG Funds Case

The Osun State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has accused the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) of attempting to manipulate judicial proceedings by transferring a case concerning seized local government allocations from Osogbo to Abuja.

Addressing journalists at a press conference held Monday at the Osun Government Secretariat in Abere, the state NULGE President, Dr. Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, alleged that the AGF’s office had filed for an urgent hearing of the matter before a Federal High Court in Abuja—despite the case already being before the Federal High Court in Osogbo.

Dr. Ogungbangbe questioned the timing and motive behind the move, insisting that the court where the case was initially filed should be allowed to see the matter through.

“On May 12, 2025, the Osun State Government filed its case before the Federal High Court, seeking an order to protect these funds for the benefit of the people. The court, in its wisdom, ordered all parties to maintain the status quo,” he stated.

“Despite this clear order, we were shocked to discover that attempts were made to open accounts for these sacked officials in order to illegally divert allocations. It took public outcry and the ruling of the Court of Appeal on June 13, 2025, to stop this brazen act of impunity,” he added.

Ogungbangbe said the sudden demand by the AGF’s office for a vacation hearing in Abuja raised suspicions of ulterior motives.

“Now, months later, the 3rd defendant—the Office of the Chief Law Officer of the Federation—has suddenly woken up, crying ‘urgency’ and demanding that this matter be rushed and heard in Abuja during the court vacation. We ask: Why the rush? Why Abuja? Why now?” he queried.

Describing the urgency as “self-created,” Ogungbangbe noted that the defendants were served as far back as May 16, 2025, but failed to act.

“Only the Central Bank filed a late response; the others did nothing. For them to now turn around in August to cry urgency is an insult to justice and due process,” he said.

He warned that the AGF’s actions appeared to be an attempt “to use the Abuja vacation court to give through the backdoor what the Court of Appeal has already denied.”

Calling for adherence to due process, Ogungbangbe urged that the matter be heard at its originally scheduled time and location, cautioning that any deviation would further fuel public suspicion of attempts by powerful interests to undermine judicial authority.