Osun LG Funds: Court Orders Arrest of UBA Senior Executives Over Alleged Unauthorised Accounts—-An Osogbo Chief Magistrate Court has issued a bench warrant against United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and three of its senior executives over their alleged involvement in the opening and operation of unauthorised accounts used to manage local government funds in Osun State.

The court’s action follows allegations that the accounts were operated outside approved financial and administrative frameworks governing council finances.

The bench warrant was issued on Friday, January 30, 2026, following the failure of the bank and the affected executives to appear before the court in a case instituted by the Osun State Government through the Office of the Attorney General. The court subsequently adjourned further hearing in the matter to February 10, 2026.

The charges, filed under charge number MOS/601C/2025, stem from petitions by chairmen of local governments in the state, who alleged that unauthorised accounts were opened to receive and manage statutory allocations meant for the 30 local government councils in Osun State.

According to the prosecution, the accounts were allegedly opened and operated at UBA “to allow unauthorized persons to operate and maintain the accounts,” an action the state government said contravenes existing financial and administrative regulations governing local government funds.

Those listed in the charge alongside UBA Plc are the bank’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Oliver Alawuba; Group Legal Adviser, Mr. Billy Odura; and Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Chukwuma Nweke. The defendants are accused of allowing the opening and operation of what the state government described as “illegal accounts” for Osun State local governments.

The case is unfolding against the backdrop of a prolonged local government crisis in Osun State, following a disputed council election conducted at the tail end of the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola. The election was later nullified by the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo.

The Osun State Government has repeatedly maintained that the chairmen produced by the election, which was conducted under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration, were sacked by the court and therefore lack legal standing to occupy council offices or exercise control over local government finances.

Reacting to the issuance of the bench warrant, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, said the matter “revolves around the control of local government funds.”

He stated that the Osun State Government’s position remains that the sacked APC chairmen “are not and should not in any way or manner lay claim to the legitimate occupation of all council areas in Osun State,” adding that the continued occupation of the councils by the opposition party was “illegitimate.”

Alimi expressed confidence in the judiciary, saying the government believes the court will “carry out its constitutionally assigned duties and responsibilities without fear or favour” as the case progresses.

The court subsequently fixed February 10, 2026, for further hearing in the matter, as legal proceedings continue over the control and administration of local government funds in the state.

The development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political and legal dispute surrounding local government administration in Osun State.

On Wednesday, SaharaReporters reported that lawyers representing the All Progressives Congress (APC) failed to appear in court, prompting accusations by the state government that the opposition party is deliberately evading judicial scrutiny to prolong the local government crisis.

The suit, filed by the Osun State chapter of the APC at the Federal High Court in Osogbo, seeks judicial backing for what the party describes as a continuation of the tenure of its local government chairmen. However, when the matter came up for hearing on January 28, 2026, none of the party’s listed lawyers — including three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) — was present in court.

The court subsequently adjourned the case to March 4, 2026.

Reacting to the development, the Osun State Government described the absence of APC lawyers as an intentional act aimed at frustrating the resolution of the prolonged local government imbroglio.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the government accused the APC of running away from a case it had filed and has been citing as justification for its continued occupation of council secretariats.

Alimi said the party’s conduct confirmed its alleged strategy of delay. He stated, “It is in the public domain that, in order to carry on with their illegality, they claimed they filed a case at the Federal High Court in Osogbo for tenure elongation but today they ran away from the same case.”

He further accused the APC of misrepresenting the nature of the suit, noting that the party had alternated between calling it a request for “tenure elongation” and “tenure determination,” which he described as “clearly bizarre.”

There is a dispute around over N130billion local government funds which the Bola Tinubu’s administration has continued to hold on to.

ECOWAS Bloc Achieves 4.6% Growth Amid Global Economic Headwinds – Dr Omar—-ECOWAS President, Dr Omar Touray, says the bloc recorded 4.6 per cent economic growth in 2025, in spite of global economic challenges, and envisages 5 per cent growth in 2026.

Touray disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a meeting with development partners, while highlighting the commission’s 2025 Annual Report.

He said that ECOWAS outperformed the continental average in 2025 through structural reforms, rising investment in mining and energy, improved regional trade facilitation, and a strong rebound in services, transport and tourism.

“This robust performance is driven by structural reforms, rising investment in mining and energy, improvement in regional trade facilitation and a strong rebound in services, transport and tourism,” he said.

According to him, inflation, though still elevated in some member states, has declined in others due to coordinated monetary policies and improved food supply conditions.

“Our fiscal deficits have narrowed significantly as governments strengthen revenue mobilisation and rationalise public expenditure,” Touray said.

“Our debt-to-GDP ratio has also declined modestly, reflecting strong nominal growth and improved macroeconomic management,” he said.

He noted that the sub-region’s external position remained sound, with a strengthened current account surplus, which is supported by high export earnings from oil, gold and bauxite.

“We are meeting at a time when the global economy is undergoing profound transformation.

“Geopolitical tensions, restructuring of supply chains and the rapid acceleration of digital and green transitions continue to reshape the global economic system,” he said.

He further noted that global growth slowed in 2025 and uncertainty remained high, even as inflation eased slightly, but said Africa had continued to demonstrate resilience.

“Yet in the midst of these global headwinds, Africa continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience.

“Growth is recovering, inflation is declining, and political stability has improved in a number of countries,” the commission’s president said.

Touray said that peace and security remained at the core of the bloc’s mandate, adding that ECOWAS intensified preventive diplomacy, mediation and democratic support across the region in 2025.

“Peace and security remain at the heart of our mandate, because insecurity in parts of the region remains a major concern,” he stressed.

He said that ECOWAS would continue to manage the implications of the withdrawal of its three Sahel State members Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, while keeping channels open for constructive engagement.

Touray disclosed that the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff completed the rotation of the Standby Force and reinforced preparations for both the Standby Force and the 1,650 strong Counterterrorism Brigade.

He said progress was made in combating organised crime and terrorism, with ECOWAS formally taking over the West Africa Police Information System after 12 years under Interpol.

He, however, noted that the reduced cooperation with the Alliance of Sahel States owing to their exit had complicated counterterrorism efforts.

“While attacks declined slightly, fatalities increased due to the rising use of improvised explosive devices,” Touray said.

On governance, Touray said ECOWAS supported several member states, including Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, in electoral preparations, transitions and reforms.

He said the bloc recorded steady progress in economic integration, including the launch of the second phase of the pre-movement and migration project and validation of the ECOWAS Visa Online approach.

“Seven of our member states are now implementing the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card, and the most recent one is the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

Touray said ECOWAS’ support for women and youth yielded results, with more than 1,300 small-scale cross-border traders and 50 women-led SMEs benefiting from capacity-building programmes, while digital skills training expanded opportunities for rural women.

According to him, the commission committed about 8 million dollars to humanitarian emergencies and disaster risk reduction, while drug rehabilitation services expanded to 10 centres across the region.

On regional infrastructure and energy, the commission’s president said ECOWAS mobilised over $42 million for regional road network preparatory studies and advanced preparations for the Praia–Dakar–Abidjan Corridor, supported by the African Development Bank.

He reaffirmed ECOWAS’ zero tolerance for unconstitutional changes of government.

“There is now zero tolerance for anti-constitutional behaviour in the region.

“ECOWAS stands for no coups, and we will continue to maintain that position,” he said.

On recent political developments in Guinea-Bissau, he called for a short transition led by an inclusive government with a limited mandate to undertake constitutional and electoral reforms.

Touray also announced that sanctions on the Republic of Guinea had been lifted following satisfactory elections in country.

“This is the first time since my arrival in ECOWAS that I am sitting in front of the Ambassador of Guinea in an ECOWAS meeting.

“Guinea has been welcomed back as a full-fledged member of ECOWAS,” he said.

While expressing satisfaction with developments in the sub-region, Touray said it was gratifying to note that the bloc remained on course, in spite of the formidable challenges it faced in 2025,.

“The progress outlined reflects the resilience, determination and unity of our community.

“The vision of a peaceful, prosperous and fully integrated West Africa remains within reach,” he added.(NAN)