A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, has described the withholding of local government funds for Osun State as “highly political.”
Ozekhome said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
Chief Ozekhome warned that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, must offer proper legal guidance to the Presidency over the matter.
Ozekhome accused the AGF of taking a partisan position by recommending that allocations be released to sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) officials in the state.
He argued that the AGF’s advice was influenced by politics rather than law.
The senior lawyer cited a Supreme Court judgment that held that the Federal Government could not withhold funds meant for local governments in Lagos State.
He further argued that the same principle should guide the Osun situation.
His words: “If the Attorney-General gave proper advice and guidance, which is his role as protector and defender of the people’s interest, I do not see President Bola Tinubu refusing to approve it.
”If he did give the advice and the President ignored it, then he ought to resign, ” he said.
The Osun government insisted that there was no legal or political basis for the withholding of local government funds.
The state accused the Federal Government of illegal seizure and alleged that the AGF acted without President Bola Tinubu’s approval.
Ozekhome emphasised that Osun’s elected councillors and chairmen, who were elected in fresh elections, should be entitled to their allocations without delay.
The withholding of local government funds has escalated into a constitutional and political tussle, with the state accusing the Federal Government of punishing grassroots communities rather than politic.
