Protesters storm Osun court over LG fund tussle

TUNDE ADELEKE, Osogbo

Protesters, on Wednesday stormed the Osun State High Court, Osogbo over a local government fund court tussle.

It would be recalled that a Magistrate’s court presided over by Magistrate A. Adeyeba had issued a bench warrant against the executives of United Bank of Africa (UBA) in a suit instituted by the Osun State Government for releasing funds to the All Progressives Congress (APC) reinstated chairman.

However, the Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo presided over by Justice Matthias Agboola in Suit Hos/M4/2026, granted an order in a Motion Ex parte to quash criminal proceedings against UBA and its staff at the Magistrate Court.

Despite the High Court’s directive, the proceedings continued at the Magistrate Court, a development which was opposed by the reinstated (APC-led) council officials.

The protesters gathered at the Lameco area of Osogbo and marched to the High Court carrying placards, with various inscriptions like; “Say no to disobedience to court order and judgement”; “Osun judiciary must not disobey rule of law”; “All must obey court order”; “Don’t cause anarchy”; “Say No to Make up verdict” and “Rule of law above other interests” among others.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters who are reinstated executives of councils, Hon Maaroof Ogundipe, warned that continuous entertaining of criminal suit against UBA executives by the Magistrate court after verdicts by high courts including Federal, State High Court, Federal, and Appeal Courts, may escalate to a crisis.

He said “We may petition the National Judicial Council(NJC) over the matter because it is worrisome when the court is even at the forefront of disparaging the rule of law.”

Also, the Chairman of Ejigbo LCDA, Olayanju Kolapo, stressed that the continuation of the proceedings despite five’s judgments including that of the Supreme Court by the magistrate is a disregard for the rule of law.

He said, “Over five judgments have failed them including that of the Supreme Court delivered in December 2025. We want to warn that continued unprecedented disrespect and disregard for the rule of law under the Osun State Judiciary may result in anarchy.”

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