ALGON lauds Osun court for quashing charges against UBA staff

• APC faults arrest warrant against bank officials

From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun State has praised the State High Court for granting an order to quash criminal charges against the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and three of its staff members.

The ruling, made by Justice Matthias Agboola in Suit Hos/M4/2026, on Friday in Osogbo, granted a Motion Ex-parte to quash the proceedings initiated at the Magistrate Court by Magistrate A. A. Adeyeba, who had previously issued a bench warrant against the UBA officials despite the ongoing High Court matter.

 Chairman of ALGON in the state, Hon. Abiodun Idowu, expressed appreciation for the court’s decision, describing it an affirmation of the rule of law.

He described the issuance of the bench warrant as “bizarre,” stressing that it is inexplicable for a magistrate, who is meant to uphold the law, to disregard it and take action against law-abiding bank officials.

Idowu advised the public to remain calm and law-abiding while the issues surrounding the court proceedings are resolved legally.

In a related statement, the All Progressives Congress (APC) through its Director of Media, Chief Kola Olabisi, supported the judiciary’s decision to quash the criminal charges. Olabisi described the bench warrant issued against the UBA staff as “dead on arrival” and criticized Governor Ademola Adeleke for what he termed a display of ignorance regarding the magistrate’s controversial order.

“We commend the judiciary for granting the leave to quash the charges against UBA,” he stated. He further called out Magistrate Adeyeba for not waiting for the decision of the superior court regarding the validity of the charges, insisting that the bench warrant amounted to an academic exercise given the high court’s ruling.

Olabisi also expressed disappointment over the magistrate’s negligence in ignoring the ongoing Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/19/2026, given that the magistrate is also a defendant, questioning the legitimacy of the actions taken against the UBA officials.

He posited that the ruling from the State High Court has nullified any decisions made by the Magistrate Court, rendering them void.