Osun LG Crisis: Group Accuses Minister Of Justice,Fagbemi Of Power Abuse,Political Meddling

A socio-political group, Osun Democrats for Democracy (ODD), has accused the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), of abusing his office to instigate political instability in Osun State’s local government administration.

In a strongly worded statement released on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, the group alleged that the Justice Minister was behind moves to enforce what they described as a “non-existent court judgment,” aimed at reinstating sacked local government chairmen in Osun State.

ODD claimed that the Attorney General’s actions were politically motivated, suggesting that his interference was a result of dissatisfaction over the Supreme Court loss of his client, former Osun governor Gboyega Oyetola, in the 2022 gubernatorial litigation.

“The minister is deliberately using the powers of his office to serve partisan interests,” the group said in the statement signed by its Chairman, Chief Dare Omole. “His support for the forceful return of the sacked local government chairmen—despite a subsisting court order removing them—amounts to open misinterpretation of the Akure Court of Appeal judgment.”

The group further alleged that Fagbemi influenced both the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold statutory allocations meant for Osun local governments, pending the reinstatement of the sacked officials.

“At one point, the minister nearly facilitated the illegal transfer of Osun LG funds to the sacked chairmen who forcefully occupied secretariats across the state. This attempt was only halted when the CBN demanded a valid court order, which was never provided,” the statement read.

ODD insisted that the Akure Appeal Court judgment did not reinstate the dismissed officials and challenged the Attorney General to withdraw what it described as an “erroneous legal opinion” justifying their return.

“Why is the Justice Minister violating his oath of office by acting like a political party lawyer?” the group queried. “What offence has the Adeleke-led administration committed aside from winning a free and fair election?”

The group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, saying the alleged actions of the Attorney General do not reflect the principles of fairness and justice upheld by the current administration.

“We are convinced that President Tinubu did not authorize this level of persecution against Osun workers and people. We, therefore, call on Mr. President to stop this unconstitutional abuse of power,” it added.

Signed
Chief Dare Omole,
Chairman of the Management Council