The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, seeking an investigation into a suspicious letter allegedly linked to the court’s handling of the local government funds crisis in the state. The letter, dated September 2, 2025, requests that a vacation judge continue hearing a case substantively beyond the court’s vacation period. Notably, the letter was signed by an unknown individual on behalf of the Chief Judge, rather than the judge themselves, raising concerns about judicial impropriety.
This development comes amidst an ongoing legal tussle between the Osun State Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over the disbursement of local government allocations. The state government has filed a suit against the CBN and the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), alleging that they are plotting to divert funds meant for local governments into private accounts. This, according to the government, would be a gross violation of public finance regulations and the Nigerian Constitution.
The dispute stems from conflicting court rulings on the legitimacy of the October 2022 local government elections, which has led to a tussle between elected officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and those of the PDP. The Osun State Government argues that the CBN and AGF plan to pay local government allocations into private accounts operated by individuals impersonating government officials, without the input of designated accounting officers. This, the government claims, would undermine pending legal actions before the Supreme Court regarding the administration of local government funds in Osun State.
On September 8, the Federal High Court heard the suit filed by the Osun State Government, with Justice Emeka Nwite presiding over the case. The parties announced their appearances, and the court is expected to rule on the matter. The PDP has described the situation as “a bizarre and unprecedented abuse of judicial process,” emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in the handling of the case.
The investigation into the suspicious letter and the outcome of the court case will have significant implications for the administration of local government funds in Osun State and the country at large. The transparency and accountability of the judiciary and government institutions are crucial in this matter, and the public awaits the outcome of the investigation and the court’s ruling.
