The Osun State Government has vowed to take legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after the anti-graft agency allegedly froze the state’s bank accounts, describing the move as unlawful and politically motivated.
Speaking on Wednesday, August 5, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, said Governor Ademola Adeleke had directed him to challenge the EFCC’s action in court.
Jimi-Bada disclosed that the EFCC issued a “Post No Debit” directive to the management of First Bank, where the state’s accounts are domiciled, effectively restricting access to government funds.
According to him, while the EFCC has the authority to investigate financial transactions, it cannot freeze a state government’s accounts without first obtaining a court order.
“I have the mandate of the governor to proceed to the Federal High Court to challenge this move. EFCC can investigate the accounts but it can’t freeze the accounts without order of court.
“This step will affect government running but we will challenge the move and ensure that the agency acts within the ambit of the law,” Jimi-Bada said.
Also reacting, the Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, alleged that police operatives visited the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested some members of the bank’s staff.
Ogungbile denied allegations that Governor Adeleke was using state funds to finance his re-election campaign and urged the EFCC to consider the wider consequences of its actions on governance and public welfare.
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He said freezing the state’s accounts could disrupt government operations and negatively affect residents who depend on public services.
Earlier in the day, Governor Adeleke had raised concerns over what he described as an alleged plan by the EFCC to freeze all Osun State Government accounts.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor also claimed the commission intended to freeze the personal accounts of senior government officials.
The statement described the alleged action as unlawful and suggested it was designed to cripple government activities ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
“The plot to freeze the state government accounts is meant to paralyze government activities ahead of the August 15th governorship election,” Adeleke said.
The governor further argued that there was no legal basis for such a decision, insisting that the EFCC lacks the authority to freeze the accounts of a state government without due judicial process.
At the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not publicly responded to the allegations made by the Osun State Government.