LG Crisis: Osun Court Grants UBA Leave to Quash Case, ALGA Hails Ruling

An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo has granted leave to the United Bank for Africa (UBA) to quash criminal proceedings instituted against it at a Magistrate Court in the state capital over the ongoing local government crisis.

The ruling was delivered on Friday by Justice M. O. Agboola in Suit No. HOS/M4/2026, following a motion ex-parte filed by the bank. The development was disclosed in a statement made available to Saturday PUNCH.

According to the statement, the High Court granted UBA permission to challenge and seek the quashing of the criminal proceedings pending before the Magistrate Court. However, it was alleged that despite being aware of the High Court’s decision, the Chief Magistrate, A. Adeyeba, who is listed as a party in the suit, proceeded to issue a bench warrant against some officials of the bank on the same day.

The case is connected to the controversy surrounding local government finances in Osun State, which has generated tension between political stakeholders, financial institutions, and local government officials.

Reacting to the court’s decision, the Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGA), Samuel Abiodun, welcomed the ruling, describing it as a clear affirmation of the supremacy of the rule of law.

Abiodun said the decision of the High Court showed that due process must be followed in resolving disputes, particularly those with far-reaching implications for governance and financial administration in the state. He urged all parties involved to exercise restraint and respect judicial processes.

He also advised members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding, noting that the issues in contention were already before a court of competent jurisdiction and would be resolved through lawful means.

The High Court’s intervention is expected to shape the next phase of the legal battle, as attention now shifts to how the Magistrate Court proceedings and the alleged bench warrants will be addressed in light of the leave granted to quash the case.