Osun LG Accounts Dispute Deepens as Courts Issue Conflicting Orders Against UBA

Confusion has erupted in Osun State following conflicting court decisions over the alleged illegal operation of local government council accounts by the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) and four of its top officials.

A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo on Friday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of UBA and some senior executives over accusations that the bank unlawfully maintained accounts in the name of the state’s 30 local government councils.

However, earlier the same day, the Osun State High Court in Osogbo had granted UBA leave to seek the quashing of the criminal proceedings pending before the Magistrate Court.

Justice M. O. Agboola, ruling on an ex parte motion in Suit No. M4/2026, approved the application for judicial review, a development expected to halt further action at the lower court until the superior court determines the matter.

Despite this, Magistrate A. A. Adeyeba proceeded to issue the arrest warrant against the bank’s officials, creating uncertainty over which order should prevail.

Legal observers noted that the magistrate, who is also named as a party in the High Court suit, was expected to suspend proceedings pending the outcome of the case at the higher court.

The magistrate also reportedly ignored a separate case, Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/19/2026, filed by reinstated local government chairmen and councillors challenging the legality of the charge brought against the bank.

The criminal case, marked Charge No. MOS/601c/2025, was instituted by the Osun State government and includes 31 counts bordering on alleged unlawful opening, operation, and maintenance of council accounts.

Court documents accuse UBA and its executives of conspiring to commit a felony by allowing unauthorised individuals to operate statutory local government accounts, contrary to the Criminal Code and the Osun State Local Government Accounts Administration Law, 2025.

Among those listed as defendants are UBA Plc, its Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba; the Company Secretary and Group Legal Adviser, Billy Odum; and the Deputy Managing Director, Chukwuma Nweke.

At the last sitting in December 2025, the magistrate ordered that the defendants be served through email and substituted means, including newspaper publications.

The case has now been adjourned to February 10, 2026, for trial.

The conflicting court orders have heightened tension surrounding the ongoing dispute over the control and administration of Osun local government funds.