RismadarVoice Reporters
October 4, 2026
The Osun State Government has approached the Federal High Court in Lagos seeking to set aside an interim order restricting transactions on its bank accounts over a disputed $13.9 million arbitration award in favour of Gamji Nigeria Company Limited.
The state government said on Sunday that it had filed an application challenging the order and was taking legal steps to contest the underlying arbitration award.
Justice D.E. Osiagor had granted an ex parte application directing commercial banks to place a Post No Debit restriction on accounts operated by the Osun State Government.
The interim order followed an application by Gamji Nigeria Company Limited in suit FHC/L/CS/1233/2026.
In a statement, Osun Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, alleged that the order was obtained without disclosure of material information relating to an existing legal challenge against the arbitration award.
The state government also disputed aspects of the award being enforced, claiming that the arbitration process was affected by irregularities. Those claims remain subject to judicial determination.
According to the government, its legal team had already approached the Lagos State High Court on September 1, 2026, seeking to set aside the arbitration award and suspend its enforcement pending determination of the case.
The government said Gamji and its lawyers had been served with the originating application and a motion seeking to suspend execution of the award before the company subsequently approached the Federal High Court.
It further alleged that the company did not disclose the pending Lagos State High Court proceedings when seeking the ex parte order at the Federal High Court.
The dispute dates back to a 2017 contract and involves a disagreement over a variation request and an alleged debt of about $15.98 million.
According to the state government, the matter eventually proceeded to arbitration, culminating in an award that the current administration is now challenging.
The government also disputed the date of an arbitration award referenced in the enforcement proceedings, saying the relevant award against the state was made in July 2026 rather than July 2024.
It said a motion seeking to set aside the September 9 Federal High Court order has now been filed.
The Osun State Government said it would refrain from further comments on the merits of the dispute because the matter remains before the courts.
The courts have yet to determine the state government’s substantive challenge to the arbitration award or its application seeking to overturn the restrictions placed on its accounts.
