Osun government asks court to set aside ex-parte order freezing state accounts

The Osun State Government has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to set aside an ex‑parte order that placed restrictions on the state’s bank accounts, according to filings and press reports.

In court papers filed at the Federal High Court, the state is seeking to vacate the order that led to the freezing of its accounts while it challenges the enforcement of an arbitral award in favour of Gamji Nigeria Company Limited. Punch and Vanguard reported the application; the Nigerian Tribune said the government is contesting the enforcement of the award and accused Gamji of concealing material facts when obtaining the ex‑parte order.

Allegations and the underlying dispute

Vanguard reported that the arbitration award in question totals $13.9 million and N157.5 million and arose from a contract dispute involving Gamji, which the outlet described as a contractor handling a water project in the state. The Nigerian Tribune said the dispute traces back to a 2017 contract disagreement. According to Tribune, the state alleges Gamji concealed material facts from the court when it sought the ex‑parte order.

What the filings seek

The government’s application asks the court to set aside or vacate the earlier ex‑parte order that resulted in restrictions on the state’s bank accounts, Punch and Vanguard said. The filings also mount a direct challenge to the enforcement of the arbitral award, as reported by the Nigerian Tribune.

Procedural posture and reporting

All three outlets said the matter is before the Federal High Court in Lagos. Reports identified the order as ex‑parte — obtained without the state’s presence in court — and noted the state has now responded by seeking to have that order set aside.

Why the case is notable

The reports focus on the state’s effort to overturn a court order that affected its bank accounts and on the government’s allegation that the award‑seeking party did not disclose material facts to the court. Vanguard offered the most detail on the amounts involved and the contractor role of Gamji; Tribune supplied the timeline linking the dispute to a 2017 contract.

The court will determine whether the ex‑parte order should be vacated and whether the arbitral award can be enforced against the state. No hearing outcome was reported by the sources at the time of filing.