Osun blames Oyetola era for $15.9M dispute, files motion to reverse bank account restrictions
Osun blames Oyetola era for $15.9M dispute, files motion to reverse bank account restrictions
By Idun Maximus
The Osun State Government has filed a motion at the Federal High Court in Lagos to set aside an ex-parte order that restricted access to the state’s bank accounts over a disputed $15.98 million contract claim by Gamji Nigeria Company Limited.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, announced the legal action on Sunday, stating that the application was formally submitted on October 2, 2026.
Alimi attributed the crisis to a 2017 contract variation dispute inherited from the previous administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
He explained that the state government rejected Gamji’s request for a price variation, leading to arbitration proceedings that the current administration claims were poorly managed, biased, and conducted without giving the state a fair hearing.
The state government contends that the September 9 ex-parte order was procured through deceit, deliberate non-disclosure, and concealment of vital facts.
According to the state, Gamji approached the Federal High Court without disclosing that the validity of the underlying July 2026 arbitral award was already being legally challenged.
Alimi noted that the state counsel had previously filed a suit at the Lagos State High Court on September 1, 2026, alongside a motion to suspend execution of the arbitral award pending full determination, noting that both filings were served on Gamji and its legal team before the firm approached the Federal High Court.
The government clarified that no arbitral award was issued against the state in July 2024, as cited in the ex-parte proceedings, making the enforcement claim legally flawed.
“The deceptiveness of Gamji Nigeria Company Limited has been fully presented to the Federal High Court. Because the matter remains sub-judice, the state government will refrain from making comments on its merits,” Alimi said.
Reassuring the public, the government emphasized that all necessary legal steps are being taken to vacate the order, restore full access to state accounts, and ensure a fair judicial review of the disputed award.
