The Osun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)/Accord-led administration for what it described as a display of “pathological ignorance” in celebrating a bench warrant issued by an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
In a press statement signed by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Mogaji Kola Olabisi, the APC commended the judiciary for granting leave to the United Bank for Africa (UBA) to quash criminal proceedings pending before Magistrate A. A. Adeyeba.
The leave was issued ex-parte by Justice M. O. Agboola of the Osun State High Court in Osogbo in Suit HOS/M4/2026 in the early hours of Friday.
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The APC described Magistrate Adeyeba’s subsequent decision to issue a bench warrant against UBA officials as unprofessional and contradictory, given his awareness of the High Court’s order.
The party argued that the magistrate ought to have awaited the superior court’s determination of the validity of Charge No. MOS/601c/2025.
It insisted that the bench warrant was “dead on arrival” and amounted to a mere academic exercise in the eyes of the law.
The statement expressed dismay at the state government’s celebration of what it termed a “non-existent victory,” accusing Adeleke’s administration of resorting to theatrical rhetoric and demonstrating gross ineptitude.
The APC highlighted the government’s failure to understand court hierarchy, noting that High Court orders supersede those of Magistrate Courts.
It further criticised the magistrate for ignoring the pendency of Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/19/2026, in which he is a defendant, brought by reinstated local government chairmen and councilors challenging alleged illegalities at the Magistrate Court.
The APC reminded the public that the Supreme Court has affirmed the Federal High Court’s exclusive jurisdiction over banking matters under Section 251 of the Constitution, though the State High Court shares jurisdiction in banking-customer relationships.
It stressed that Magistrate Courts lack jurisdiction entirely in such matters and that continued action would be sub judice and contempt of court.
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The party also described the case as an abuse of court process, recalling that a similar matter involving local government accounts and UBA had earlier been filed at the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan.
It urged Magistrate Adeyeba to recuse himself from the case, given his status as a party in the High Court suit, and called on the public to disregard the narrative peddled by Governor Adeleke and his aides.
The APC appealed for calm while legal processes address what it termed the “illegality” characterising the Adeleke administration.
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