Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for the immediate release of over ₦130 billion in statutory allocations allegedly withheld from the state’s local governments, warning that the continued blockade is crippling grassroots governance and causing hardship for workers and residents.

In a statewide broadcast on Monday addressing the illegal occupation of local government secretariats, Adeleke said court-sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors have unlawfully occupied council offices for nearly a year, despite Federal High Court rulings in November 2022 and subsequent affirmations by the Court of Appeal in February and June 2025 nullifying their elections.

“The court removed them, not my administration,” the governor stressed, noting that fresh local government elections were held in accordance with court orders, leading to the swearing-in of duly elected chairmen and councillors on February 23, 2025.

He described the current occupants as impostors acting without any lawful mandate.

Adeleke accused former governor Gboyega Oyetola of allegedly backing the occupation with police support, an action he said undermines democracy and the rule of law.

He also alleged that local government workers who attempted to resume duty were harassed and intimidated by armed police officers and political thugs.

Central to his address was the withholding of local government funds.

Adeleke disclosed that since February 2025, statutory allocations due to Osun local governments, now totalling about ₦130 billion, have not been credited to the councils’ legal accounts.

He said these funds are critical for the payment of salaries for primary school teachers, nurses, health workers in 332 primary health care centres, council staff, traditional councils, and retirees.

The governor warned that the state government has had to make painful financial sacrifices to keep salaries paid for almost 12 months, describing the situation as unsustainable.

“Governance is about humanity, responsibility, and compassion, but this burden cannot continue indefinitely,” he said.

Adeleke also accused the United Bank for Africa (UBA) of allegedly allowing unauthorised persons to operate local government accounts, adding that senior bank officials involved are facing criminal prosecution.

He questioned whether such actions would be tolerated in jurisdictions like New York or London, where the bank operates.

Calling for federal intervention, Adeleke appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the release of the withheld funds and to safeguard democratic institutions.

He stressed that the President was not involved in the alleged illegality but urged him to rescue Osun local governments from what he described as an unlawful siege.

“There is no provision in our Constitution for tenure elongation,” Adeleke said, framing the crisis as a choice between constitutional order and naked impunity.

He called on Nigerians and democracy advocates to demand an immediate end to the occupation of local government secretariats and the release of council funds.

The governor urged residents to remain peaceful and law-abiding, assuring them of his administration’s commitment to upholding the Constitution and protecting their welfare.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) over their alleged failure to account for N128 billion said to be missing or diverted from the power ministry and NBET.

The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, follows revelations contained in the latest annual report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on September 9, 2025, which raised concerns over the handling of the funds.

In the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/143/2026, SERAP is asking the court to issue an order of mandamus compelling Adelabu and NBET to account for the missing or diverted N128 billion.

The organisation is also seeking an order directing the defendants to publicly disclose how the funds were spent, including the dates of disbursement, the identities of beneficiaries or contractors, as well as their registered business names and addresses.

SERAP further wants the court to compel the disclosure of the full names, official designations and offices of all public officers who authorised, approved or were otherwise involved in the release of the funds.

According to SERAP, corruption in the power sector has continued to undermine electricity supply nationwide, contributing to frequent grid collapses.

The group noted that Nigerians recently experienced the first national grid collapse of 2026, which plunged many parts of the country into darkness.

In its argument before the court, SERAP said Nigerians have continued to bear the consequences of what it described as widespread and grand corruption in the electricity sector, stressing that there is a strong public interest in ensuring accountability for the alleged missing funds.

The organisation argued that granting the reliefs sought would help curb corruption in the power sector, address persistent failures in electricity transmission, and improve access to regular and uninterrupted power supply across the country.

SERAP also maintained that the court’s intervention would strike a blow against impunity by holding accountable those responsible for the alleged diversion of public funds meant to improve electricity supply.

According to the group, despite poor and irregular power supply, Nigerians are still compelled to pay high electricity bills, further worsening the hardship faced by citizens.

The suit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its legal team, comprising Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo.

The organisation argued that the Auditor-General’s findings point to serious breaches of public trust, the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and international anti-corruption standards.

Former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (retd), has described the Supreme Court’s decision ending his prosecution over the murder of Kudirat Abiola as a moment of forgiveness, closure and renewed dedication to Nigeria.

Speaking for the first time after the apex court, on January 22, brought to an end a legal battle that lasted 28 years across the Lagos High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, Al-Mustapha said the judgment affirmed his innocence and freed him to move forward without resentment.

He said he bore no grudge against any individual or institution and expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for allowing the judiciary to carry out its duties without interference throughout the prolonged trial.

In a statement issued at the weekend, Al-Mustapha thanked his family, Nigerians and the judiciary for standing by him during what he described as “a harrowing, unforgettable and traumatic journey that began like a joke and which has finally ended on a very happy note.”

“My battle with the forces of darkness started in 1998 when I, along with others, was arrested and arraigned on trumped-up charges orchestrated by those who decided not only to blackmail me, but also to get rid of me for reasons best known to them,” he said.

“Of course, it would be an understatement to say that the 28 years of trial that followed were enjoyable. But to the glory of Almighty Allah, all ended well at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

He said the verdict had enabled him to put the painful chapter behind him and move on with his life.

“As a good and patriotic Nigerian, I have to put all that happened behind me, gear up and get ready to move on with my life without grudges against any individual or institution,” he said.

Al-Mustapha added that the judgment had vindicated him completely.

“The Supreme Court verdict has vindicated me and proved my innocence; so what more do I ask Almighty Allah for than the heart to forgive all those who masterminded my almost three-decade ordeal. As a Muslim, I have forgiven them all.”

He said he was now prepared to return to public life in a positive and constructive manner. “I am ready now to contribute my own quota to the well-being, development and advancement of Nigeria,” he said.

Paying tribute to the Justices of the Supreme Court, Al-Mustapha said, “To the eminent and erudite Justices at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, I remain eternally effusive in my gratitude for your painstaking and just judgment. I thank you so much for living up to expectations as the last hope of the common and defenceless man.”

He also thanked Nigerians who supported him during the trial, as well as members of his family who, he said, endured sustained harassment.

“I am grateful to my parents, who suffered from wanton harassment by forces bent on seeing my end. My wife and children, who also suffered deliberate harassment, deserve commendation for standing firm, even in the face of all threats,” he said.

Al-Mustapha acknowledged the ordeals faced by his siblings, legal team and associates, noting that his lawyers were subjected to “physical attacks, illegal break-ins and burglary of their chambers,” while friends experienced “illegal searches and abuses.”

On a sombre note, he remembered journalists and others who lost their lives or were injured while covering the trial.

“On a sad note, however, I remember all those who paid the supreme price and other patriots who sustained life-threatening injuries, especially from all the geo-political zones of Nigeria, in the course of covering my court trial,” he said.

“I sympathise with their family members and other loved ones. They are heroes, and their labours shall not be in vain.”

He concluded by urging Nigerians to move beyond bitterness and division, calling on citizens to reject hatred and work together in unity “to ensure that Nigeria becomes the country of our lofty dreams for the sake of posterity.”

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said he misses the leadership style of former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, noting that things are no longer the same since his exit from office.

Makinde made the remark on Saturday in Ibadan while speaking at a public event attended by Osinbajo, where he reflected on the former vice president’s role in managing Nigeria’s economic affairs as chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC).

“Sir, I personally miss you in that position (presidency). A lot of people may not know why things are not really the same. It’s not a political talk because I’m not on that podium,” the governor said.

He explained that Osinbajo’s leadership during NEC meetings significantly influenced key decisions he took as a new governor, particularly during the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020.

“I remember I was barely seven months into the position of the governor of Oyo State, and that was my very first public service job. And we had a crisis in the country; this was February 2020.

“There was COVID, and we came in for the National Economic Council meeting. It was a hot meeting; the chairman of the council (Osinbajo) came in, and a few of my colleagues. I wasn’t sure whether they held a meeting before that meeting, but they came in and said we should all go back and lock down our state. So, for Oyo State people, why I did not lock down during COVID was because of his decision,” Makinde said.

The governor also criticised the current administration’s handling of the tax reform bills, describing the process as lacking consultation and openness.

“But we had the same situation in this dispensation; it was the tax bill, and we said, ‘Look, bring the tax bill; bring it back; let us all have an opportunity to look dispassionately at it,’ but you cannot speak truth to power in this dispensation; the tax bill will go ahead,” he said.

Makinde further expressed concern that state governors were sidelined in decisions affecting fiscal policy.

“They said the tax bill will go ahead. It is an affront for even the governors to be saying that what the presidency has done to send the tax bill to the National Assembly. The tax bill, we don’t know what was passed at the National Assembly, we don’t also know what was signed up. When I say I miss you, I miss you so much sir,” he added.

Prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State have intensified efforts to mobilise support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The leaders said President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at economic transformation and restoring confidence in governance, has begun to yield positive results, warranting a second term in office.

Those leading the mobilisation include the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC, Emma Enukwu, and the Chairman of the party’s State Caretaker Committee, Ben Nwoye, among other party stakeholders.

Speaking during a membership revalidation exercise at his Obinagu ward in Udi Local Government Area, Enukwu emphasised the importance of party members and supporters obtaining their APC membership cards and Permanent Voter Cards to enable them participate fully in future elections.

He explained that the introduction of electronic registration and membership revalidation was designed to align the APC with modern political party operations and strengthen its grassroots structure.

Enukwu assured President Tinubu of strong electoral backing from Enugu State in 2027, expressing optimism that the party would significantly improve on its performance in the last general election.

Nwoye, who spoke at Amurri ward in Nkanu West Local Government Area, said the growing unity among APC stakeholders in the area would make it difficult for opposition parties to gain ground in the 2027 polls.

He urged party members to revalidate their membership and encouraged new entrants to take advantage of the ongoing registration exercise, stressing that President Tinubu and Governor Mbah deserve a second term to consolidate on their achievements.

Meanwhile, Governor Mbah’s Chief of Staff, Victor Udeh, was formally received into the APC at his Umuabi community in Udi Local Government Area, amid celebrations by party supporters.

Udeh said his decision to join the APC was motivated by the reforms being implemented by the current administration, adding that he would contribute to strengthening the party’s presence in the area.

He called on residents to continue supporting the government, noting that sustained public backing was essential for delivering on promises aimed at improving governance and development in Enugu State.