…dismisses UBA Plc’s sine die adjournment request
…extends freezing order on accounts
Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has adjourned till November 27, 2025, for ruling on applications challenging the jurisdiction of the court as well as joinders filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the case concerning the preservation of funds accrued to Osun State local governments from the Federation Account.
The Court also extended its earlier order freezing the 30 accounts at UBA Plc where the disputed funds are lodged, pending the next adjourned date.
In addition, the Court dismissed the application filed by UBA Plc’s lead counsel, Ojo Adebayo (SAN), which sought a sine die adjournment of the case pending the Supreme Court’s ruling on a similar matter.
Lead counsel to the claimants, Musibau Adetunmbi (SAN), had during proceedings on Tuesday opposed the applications by both the APC and the PDP to be joined as parties to the case.
He also opposed the application by the APC cahllenging the jurisdiction of the court arguing that the APC could not file any application on a matter to which it is not a party, and that the same applies to the PDP.
According to him, “As far as this case is concerned, the APC is a stranger and, as a result, it cannot file this motion.”
He therefore prayed the court to dismiss the APC motion challenging the court’s jurisdiction as well as joinder applications filed by both the APC and the PDP.
Adetunmbi further maintained that the Court has jurisdiction to entertain the matter, contrary to the submission of the APC’s lead counsel, Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN).
Gbadamosi, in his argument, had challenged the territorial jurisdiction of the Court to entertain the suit.
He also questioned the locus standi of the claimants, arguing that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria vests the power to administer local government funds in the local government authorities themselves. His argument, however, was countered by the counsel to the Attorney General of Osun State, who cited relevant legal authorities.
After listening to arguments from both sides, Justice Akintola adjourned the matter till November 27, 2025, for ruling.
On the sine die adjournment application filed by UBA Plc, the Court held that the application could not be entertained while there were still pending applications challenging its jurisdiction.
Ruling on a similar suit filed by the PDP against UBA Plc, Justice Akintola referred the matter to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another court.
