Account signatories: CBN replacing civil servants with APC members –  ALGON

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Osun State chapter, has accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of working in concert with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to unlawfully operate bank accounts in the names of local governments.

Speaking at a press briefing in Osogbo on Thursday, the state ALGON chairman, Sarafadeen Awotunde, alongside other members of the association, said the alleged scheme came to light after APC governorship hopeful and party lawyer, admitted during a live television interview that the CBN had opened accounts for councils in Osun State with APC members listed as signatories.

“On the 28th of August, 2025, during a live broadcast of the ARISE TV Morning Show, Adegoke openly admitted that the Central Bank of Nigeria has opened accounts in the names of local government councils in Osun State, and that the signatories to those accounts are not the legitimate civil servants but members of the APC recruited to claim local government civil service positions and offices illegally,” ALGON said.

The association described the move as “a brazen illegality” and “an attempt to divert Osun people’s money into private and political pockets.”

They noted that under existing laws, only designated senior civil servants—such as Heads of Local Government Administration, Directors of Administration and Directors of Finance—are authorised to sign council accounts.

“Throughout the democratic world, politicians do not sign government cheques,” the statement stressed.

ALGON also faulted the legitimacy of individuals presented as APC council chairmen, pointing to court rulings that had voided their elections.

“Their purported election was nullified by the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo on 30th November, 2022, a judgment that was further affirmed by the Court of Appeal in Akure on 13th June, 2025. That is the settled law. They remain sacked,” ALGON stated.

The group further alleged that genuine civil servants were turned away at the CBN Osogbo branch when they attempted to open local government accounts, while APC members were recognised instead.

“This action is a brazen illegality, a disregard for subsisting court judgments, an infraction against banking and public account rules, and a direct threat to the welfare of the people of Osun State whose funds are at stake,” the chairmen said.

To support their claims, ALGON said it has submitted certified documents including statutory regulations on signatories to local government accounts, withdrawal of certificates of return issued to the dismissed APC chairmen by OSSIEC, valid certificates of return issued to ALGON leaders in February 2025, and the two court rulings that affirmed their legitimacy.

The association demanded a probe by the CBN leadership, insisting that the apex bank governor must investigate the conduct of its Osogbo officials and compel Mr. Adegoke to defend his comments made on national television.

ALGON also questioned why Osun appeared to be treated differently in the release of local government funds.

“As we speak here today, all local governments in all the other 35 states have continued to receive their monthly allocations through the State-Local Government Joint Accounts as contained in the 1999 Constitution. The AGF and his allies are upholding the rule of power and politics over the rule of law. It is most unfortunate,” the group said.

The ALGON leadership pledged to resist what it described as a plot against the state’s people. “We assure the people of Osun State that ALGON will not relent in defending the mandate freely given to us and in protecting the collective patrimony of our local governments. Justice must prevail,” the association declared.