EFCC account freeze: Osun govt goes to Court, says move illegal

Osun State Government has announced plans to challenge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in court over the freezing of its bank accounts, describing the action as illegal and capable of disrupting governance ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The state’s Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, said on Wednesday that Governor Ademola Adeleke had directed him to institute legal proceedings at the Federal High Court to contest the anti-graft agency’s action.
According to him, the EFCC issued a “Post No Debit” directive to First Bank, where the state’s accounts are domiciled, effectively restricting access to government funds.
Jimi-Bada argued that while the EFCC has the authority to investigate financial transactions, it lacks the power to freeze state government accounts without first obtaining a valid 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 an 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,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, alleged that police operatives stormed the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested some members of the bank’s staff during the operation.
Ogungbile maintained that the state government had not diverted public funds for political purposes, insisting that Governor Adeleke was not financing his re-election campaign with state resources.
He urged the EFCC to consider the implications of freezing government accounts on public services and the welfare of residents.
Earlier, Governor Adeleke had raised the alarm over what he described as plans by the EFCC to freeze all Osun State Government accounts as well as those of top government officials.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor said the alleged action was intended to cripple government activities ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
“The plot to freeze the state government accounts is meant to paralyse government activities ahead of the August 15 governorship election,” the statement read.
Adeleke further insisted that there was no legal basis for freezing the state’s accounts, arguing that the EFCC has no statutory powers to take such action against a state government without judicial approval.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not publicly responded to the allegations by the Osun State Government.