A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo has issued arrest warrants against United Bank for Africa Plc and four of its senior officials over allegations bordering on the illegal operation and maintenance of bank accounts in the names of the 30 local government councils in Osun State.
The case, Suit No. MOS/601c/2025, was instituted by the Osun State Government and was heard on Friday at the Magistrate’s Court in Osogbo.
In a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the order titled “Warrant for Arrest of Defendant Who Has Disobeyed Summons (General Title – Form No. 1)”, the court directed the Osun State Commissioner of Police to immediately apprehend the defendants for failing to honour court summons.
According to the order, the court noted that a complaint had been made alleging that the defendants allowed unauthorised persons to operate and maintain 30 bank accounts opened in favour of Osun State’s local government councils at UBA.
The court stated that although the defendants were duly served, they failed to appear in court, prompting the issuance of arrest warrants compelling their appearance to answer the charges or face further legal consequences.
“You are hereby commanded to bring the defendant(s) before the Magistrate’s Court forthwith to answer to the said complaint or be further dealt with according to law,” the order read in part.
UBA Executives Named
Those listed as defendants alongside the bank are:
Oliver Alawuba, Group Managing Director/CEO
Billy Odum, Company Secretary and Group Legal Adviser
Chukwuma Nweke, Deputy Managing Director
31-Count Charge Filed
Court documents reveal that the Osun State Government slammed the defendants with a 31-count charge, with each count linked to alleged infractions in the opening and operation of bank accounts for the state’s 30 local government councils.
In Count One, the prosecution alleged that the defendants, on or about December 9, 2025, at the Olonkoro branch of UBA in Osogbo, conspired to commit a felony by opening, operating, and maintaining what it described as illegal local government council accounts.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume 2, Laws of Osun State, 2002.
The defendants were also accused of permitting unknown private individuals to serve as signatories to the accounts, despite the Local Government Service Commission officially introducing duly authorised Directors of Administration, General Services, and Finance for the councils.
Prosecutors said this act violated Sections 2 and 3(1)(2) and is punishable under Section 5(1)(2) of the Osun State Local Government Accounts Administration Law, 2025.
Court Adjourns Case
At a previous sitting in December 2025, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mr. A. A. Adeyeba, ordered that the defendants be served through email addresses and substituted service via newspapers.
The case has now been adjourned to February 10, 2026, for trial.
This development further deepens the ongoing controversy surrounding local government finances in Osun State, with the court’s action marking a major escalation in the legal battle.
Source: The PUNCH
