Chief Magistrate’s Court Sets January 30, 2026, for UBA Local Government Account Case Hearing
A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has scheduled January 30, 2026, for the hearing of a criminal case filed by the Osun State government against United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) and four of its top officials over alleged illegal local government account openings.
The case, pending before the Osogbo Magisterial District with Charge No. MOS/601c/2025, involves defendants including UBA, its Group Managing Director Mr. Oliver Alawuba, Company Secretary and Group Legal Adviser Mr. Billy Odum, and Deputy Managing Director Mr. Chukwuma Nweke.
According to the 31-count charge sheet, the Osun State government accuses the bank and officials of conspiring to unlawfully open, operate, and maintain accounts for the state’s 30 local government councils, with Count One alleging that on or about December 9, 2025, at UBA’s Osun State branch, they conspired to commit felony by establishing illegal local government accounts.
The offense, alleged to have occurred within the Osogbo Magisterial District, is said to violate Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume 2, Laws of Osun State, Nigeria, 2002. The defendants are accused of enabling the opening and management of accounts by unidentified private signatories, despite directives from the Local Government Service Commission to have official signatories, contravening various sections of the Osun State Local Government Accounts Administration Law, 2025.
Court documents suggest that the remaining counts similarly pertain to alleged unlawful account activities across all 30 local governments. The state claims these actions were illegal.
At the previous session, Chief Magistrate A. A. Adeyeba ordered that the defendants be served via email and other substituted means and scheduled the next hearing for January 30, 2026.
As of this report, no plea has been entered, and UBA has not issued an official response. The case is expected to garner considerable legal and public attention due to its implications for local government finances and the involvement of one of Nigeria’s leading commercial banks.
