Osun Assembly Accuses Oyetola of Illegal Control of Council Funds, Warns UBA
The Osun State House of Assembly has accused former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, of unlawfully interfering in local government administration and directing the disbursement of council funds, describing the alleged actions as a threat to democracy, the rule of law and grassroots governance.
The allegation was made on Sunday during a press conference addressed by the Speaker of the House, Adewale Egbedun, and later shared on his official Facebook page.
Mr Egbedun said the Assembly was alarmed that individuals whose elections as local government officials had been nullified by courts and whose tenure reportedly expired on 22 October 2025 were still occupying local government secretariats and handling public funds across the state.
According to him, the continued presence of the officials, all reportedly affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC), was illegal and had no backing under the Constitution or existing court judgments.
“These individuals have no legal mandate. They are not recognised by law, by the courts, or by the Constitution. Their continued presence in Local Government Secretariats is illegal and must not go on unchecked,” the Speaker said.
The Assembly further alleged, without presenting documentary evidence, that Mr Oyetola had been issuing directives concerning the disbursement of local government allocations, despite holding no constitutional or statutory authority over council finances.
Mr Egbedun described the alleged actions as a direct violation of Nigeria’s federal structure and an attempt to undermine the autonomy of local governments.
He also issued a warning to financial institutions, specifically United Bank for Africa (UBA), which reportedly serves as a banker to several local councils in the state. The Speaker cautioned the bank against honouring any financial instructions from unauthorised persons, warning that such actions could attract legal consequences.
“Any bank that continues to process or release funds to individuals without legal authority will be held accountable. No financial institution is above the law,” he said.
The Speaker said the Assembly would not hesitate to invoke its constitutional powers to protect democratic institutions and ensure that public funds are managed in accordance with the law.
The allegations come amid ongoing political tension in Osun State over the control and administration of local governments following a series of court rulings and disputes between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and the opposition APC.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Mr Oyetola nor the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy had responded to the allegations. Efforts to obtain a reaction from the APC in Osun State and United Bank for Africa were also unsuccessful.
Political analysts say the development could further deepen the political rift in the state and potentially trigger fresh legal battles over local government autonomy and control of public funds.
