By Kabiru Abdulrauf
The Osun State Government has withdrawn its suit against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Shamsudeen Ogunjimi, over the release of withheld local government funds to court-sacked council chairmen and councillors elected under former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
During Friday’s proceedings, counsel to the Osun State Government, Musibau Adetumbi (SAN), informed the Federal High Court in Abuja that the case had been overtaken by events, as the funds in question had already been released.
“On September 29, 2025, I told the court our aim was to safeguard the money. Between then and now, the money was moved out of the CBN,” Adetumbi said.
“Assuming, without conceding, that the court-sacked APC chairmen and councillors had a tenure, it lapsed on Wednesday, October 16, 2025.”
Counsel to the defendants, Muritala Abdulrasheed and Tajudeen Oladoja, did not oppose the discontinuance but challenged portions of the plaintiff’s affidavit, describing some statements as “damaging” to individuals not joined in the suit.
Abdulrasheed urged the court to expunge paragraphs five to eleven of the affidavit, alleging that the reasons advanced for discontinuance were made in bad faith.
Oladoja, on his part, argued that the claim that the funds had been paid was inaccurate, insisting that the AGF had not been granted an opportunity to respond. He also requested a ₦10 million cost against the plaintiff, citing wasted time and resources.
Responding, Adetumbi maintained that, under the Federal High Court Rules, a notice of discontinuance does not attract costs, particularly since the defendants had not filed any substantive processes before the court.
Presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, adjourned the matter to October 29 for a ruling on the application for discontinuance and other related motions.
