The Osun State Government says it will take legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged freezing of its bank accounts ahead of the state’s governorship election scheduled for 15 August.
The state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, said Governor Ademola Adeleke had directed him to challenge the agency’s action at the Federal High Court.
Mr Jimi-Bada argued that while the EFCC has the authority to investigate government accounts, it cannot freeze them without first obtaining a court order.
According to him, the anti-graft agency issued a “Post No Debit” instruction to First Bank, where the Osun State Government’s accounts are held. He warned that the restriction could disrupt government operations and the delivery of public services.
“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 the order of court,” he said.
The state’s Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, also alleged that police officers visited the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested some members of the bank’s staff.
The state government denied allegations that public funds were being used to finance the Governor Adeleke’s re-election campaign and urged the EFCC to consider the impact of the account restriction on residents.
Earlier, Governor Adeleke accused the EFCC of planning to freeze the accounts of the state government and some senior officials, describing the move as an attempt to disrupt government activities ahead of the election.
The EFCC has not publicly responded to the allegations or explained the reason for the reported account restrictions.
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