Osun State Govt files 31-Count Criminal Charges Against UBA Over LG Funds

The Osun State Government has instituted criminal proceedings against (UBA) Plc and three of its senior executives over the alleged illegal handling of local government funds in the state.

Certified court documents obtained by Newspot Nigeria show that on 29 December 2025, the State, acting through the Office of the Attorney-General and on behalf of affected local government councils, filed a 31-count criminal charge before the Chief Magistrate Court of Osun State, Osogbo Magisterial District.

The defendants named in the charge are UBA Plc, its Group Managing Director , Group Legal Adviser , and Deputy Managing Director .

According to the charge sheet, the defendants are accused of conspiracy to commit a felony, specifically the alleged opening, operation, and maintenance of Osun State Local Government statutory accounts without lawful authority. The prosecution alleges that the accounts were operated with private individuals who were not legally authorised signatories, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume 2, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

The remaining 30 counts relate to alleged offences committed on or about 9 December 2025, involving the administration of local government funds across multiple councils in the state. These alleged acts are said to be contrary to Sections 2 and 3(1) and (2) of the Osun State Local Government Accounts Administration Law, 2025, and punishable under Section 5(1) and (2) of the same law.

In the proof of evidence attached to the charge, the Osun State Government contends that the alleged actions undermined the statutory framework governing local government finances and violated recently enacted laws aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and lawful control of council funds.

The matter was mentioned for the first time on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, before His Worship, A.A. Adeyeba, Senior Magistrate Grade I. At the sitting, the court acknowledged the filing of the charges, granted an application for substituted service on the defendants, and adjourned the case to 30 January 2026 for hearing.

As of press time, UBA Plc and the named executives had not issued any official response to the charges.