OSOGBO: The Osun State Government has announced plans to challenge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in court after the anti-graft agency allegedly froze the state’s bank accounts ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, disclosed on Wednesday that Governor Ademola Adeleke had directed him to institute legal action against the EFCC, describing the agency’s action as unlawful and capable of disrupting government operations.
According to Jimi-Bada, the state government received information that the EFCC issued a Post No Debit directive to First Bank, where several Osun State government accounts are domiciled, effectively restricting access to public funds.
The Attorney General maintained that while the EFCC has the constitutional authority to investigate financial transactions, it cannot legally freeze a state government’s accounts without first obtaining a valid court order.
He said the state government would immediately approach the Federal High Court to challenge the action and seek judicial protection. 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 cannot freeze them without an order of the court,” Jimi-Bada stated.
He warned that the restriction could severely affect government activities, including the payment of salaries, execution of projects, and delivery of essential public services across the state.
Supporting the Attorney General’s position, the Osun State Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, alleged that police operatives visited the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and reportedly arrested some bank officials during the operation.
Ogungbile insisted that Governor Adeleke was not using state resources to fund his re-election campaign and urged the anti-graft agency to consider the potential impact of freezing government accounts on ordinary residents.
He argued that restricting the state’s finances would negatively affect governance and public welfare rather than political actors.
Earlier on Wednesday, Governor Adeleke raised concerns over what he described as a planned move by the EFCC to freeze all Osun State government accounts, including those belonging to top government officials.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor alleged that the action was aimed at paralysing government operations just days before the governorship election.
Adeleke described the reported move as a violation of the law, insisting that the EFCC lacks the legal authority to freeze the accounts of a state government without following due judicial process.
“The plot to freeze the state government accounts is meant to paralyse government activities ahead of the August 15 governorship election,” the statement said.
The latest development comes amid heightened political activities in Osun State as political parties intensify campaigns ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
The legal battle between the Osun State Government and the EFCC is expected to generate significant political and constitutional debate, particularly over the powers of anti-corruption agencies in relation to state government finances.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not issued an official response to the allegations made by the Osun State Government regarding the freezing of its accounts.
