Supreme Court Strikes Out Osun Suit on Withheld Local Govt Allocations

The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday struck out a suit filed by the Osun State Government seeking to compel the Federal Government (FG) to release withheld Local Government Council (LGC) allocations, ruling that the action was incompetent and improperly instituted.

A seven-member panel of the apex court, in a 6–1 split decision, held that the Attorney General of Osun State lacked the locus standi to institute the matter on behalf of the state’s 30 Local Government Councils, stressing that only the councils themselves — recognised as autonomous constitutional entities — could sue or be sued over such matters.

Delivering the lead judgement, Justice Mohammed Idris declared that the Osun government could not activate the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court since the dispute was not one directly between a state and the Federal Government as required under the Constitution.

He ruled that the LGCs were the proper parties to challenge the alleged withholding of allocations and that the apex court had “no jurisdiction to entertain the suit as constituted.” The court also rejected Osun’s argument that the matter qualified as public interest litigation.

Although the court upheld the preliminary objection filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), it admonished the Federal Government to fully comply with its previous landmark judgement granting fiscal autonomy to all 774 Local Government Areas in the country.

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In the suit marked SC/CV/775/2025, Osun State sought multiple declarations compelling the AGF to release funds allegedly withheld and to stop payments to sacked APC-backed local government officials whose election of October 15, 2022, had been nullified by both the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal.

The state further accused the AGF of directing, in a letter dated March 26, that allocations be paid to the removed officials, contrary to existing court decisions. It asked the court for orders compelling the release of all statutory allocations to the validly elected council officials inaugurated on February 23, 2025.

Counsel to Osun State, Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, told the court that the AGF had attempted to pay the disputed funds through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) despite pending proceedings, but an interim court order halted the transaction.

The Federal Government, through its counsel Akin Olujimi, SAN, argued that Osun had no cause of action and accused the state of engaging in “judicial harassment” to frustrate APC local government officials whose tenure expired in October. He maintained that the case constituted an abuse of court process and fell outside the Supreme Court’s constitutional jurisdiction.

With Friday’s decision, the onus now falls on the 30 Osun Local Government Councils themselves to approach the courts if they wish to challenge the Federal Government’s handling of their allocations — a development that reshapes the legal and political dynamics of the long-running dispute.

Supreme Court Strikes Out Osun Suit on Withheld Local Govt Allocations

DSS Arrests Doctor Providing Medical Support to Bandits in Kwara State

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a medical doctor accused of offering medical treatment and drug supplies to bandits in Kwara State, marking a major breakthrough in ongoing counter-kidnapping operations across the state.

The suspect was apprehended in the Jebba axis following intelligence reports that couriers had been transporting medical supplies from Sokoto to treat injured bandits hiding in forest camps. Security sources disclosed that many members of the criminal gangs had sustained gunshot wounds during recent engagements with security forces, prompting increased demand for medical attention in remote areas.

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A security official warned that health facilities in forest-border communities could be targeted by criminals seeking treatment, urging hospitals and clinics to strengthen surveillance and security protocols.

Confirming the development, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, described the arrest as “a major stride” in the ongoing war against banditry and kidnapping networks.

“This reinforces the fact that security agencies are closing in on these criminals and blocking the support systems that enable their operations,” Ajakaye said, adding that the government will intensify its collaboration with security agencies to dismantle all channels sustaining the activities of kidnapping gangs.

The arrest in Kwara comes amid similar incidents in the North-West, where doctors and health workers have previously been detained for providing treatment to notorious bandit leaders — highlighting the expanding role of medical logistics in Nigeria’s security crisis.

DSS Arrests Doctor Providing Medical Support to Bandits in Kwara State

Rev Kukah Urges Dialogue, Not Weapons, to Tackle Nigeria’s Insecurity

At a national security dialogue in Abuja on Thursday, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev Matthew Hassan Kukah, cautioned against the growing calls to arm communities as a response to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, warning that weapons could create new dangers rather than solutions.

“There is a growing belief that communities can defend themselves by arming up. But arms will not solve our problems. They offer a false sense of security. And when peace returns, where will those weapons go?” Kukah said.

The event, themed “A whole-of-society approach to the prevention of violence and conflict in Northern Nigeria,” was convened by the National Peace Committee (NPC), The Kukah Centre, and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). It brought together religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil society actors, security professionals, and policy experts to explore strategies for strengthening peacebuilding efforts in Northern Nigeria.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to dismantling terrorist networks and stabilizing the country. He highlighted progress under the Tinubu administration, including intelligence-driven operations, security reforms, and expanded community-based early-warning systems, which have led to thousands of insurgents surrendering and over 775 terrorism-related convictions.

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“We will defeat terror. We will restore order. We will not give up, and we will not surrender,” Ribadu declared, emphasizing that those attempting to destabilize the country would face decisive action. He also urged practical outcomes from the dialogue, stressing that sustainable peace requires actionable measures that strengthen resilience, rebuild trust, and improve security across the North and beyond.

Rev Kukah rejected arming communities as a solution, describing Nigeria’s security crisis as a symptom of deep social and moral decay. He cited underlying issues such as unstable homes, fragmented communities, and weakened moral foundations as factors enabling banditry and terrorism.

“The scale and depth of our insecurity show that we have reached the lowest point. The good news is that the only direction left is upward,” Kukah said, urging the country to embrace its diversity as a strength rather than a liability.

He emphasized that peacebuilding is a collective responsibility, beginning with individuals, families, and communities. Kukah also highlighted the importance of including women in peace processes, noting that despite forming the majority of the population, many women lack representation in decision-making.

“Women make up the majority of our population, yet many lack a voice. We cannot build peace while excluding half of our population,” he said, calling for humility, justice, and active participation from the government, religious, and traditional authorities.

Rev Kukah Urges Dialogue, Not Weapons, to Tackle Nigeria’s Insecurity