An image of Mike Ozekhome

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, has faulted the continued withholding of local government funds meant for Osun State, describing the move as “highly political”.

Speaking as a guest on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme, Ozekhome accused the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, of taking a partisan stance by recommending that allocations be released to sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) officials in the state.

He reminded President Bola Tinubu of his legal battle as Lagos governor during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration when the Federal Government withheld allocations. According to him, the Supreme Court had ruled at the time that the federal government could not withhold funds meant for constitutionally recognised local governments.

“The same principle should guide the Osun case,” Ozekhome said, insisting that the elected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) councillors and chairmen, who assumed office after the February local government elections, should have immediate access to the allocations.

The senior lawyer argued that if the AGF had provided proper legal advice to the Presidency, the matter would have been resolved. He added that if such advice was ignored, Fagbemi should “do the honourable thing” by resigning.

Ozekhome also cited precedent, recalling how during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, then-AGF Mohammed Bello Adoke advised that while a state of emergency could be declared in Plateau State, Governor Joshua Dariye could not be removed from office — a position Jonathan accepted.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Government has maintained that there is “no legal or political basis” for the continued withholding of its local government funds. It cited a June 13 Court of Appeal judgement which affirmed PDP-elected officials as the rightful leaders of the councils.

The state government accused the AGF of acting without President Tinubu’s approval and warned that the prolonged seizure of funds was punishing grassroots communities rather than political actors.