NBA SLAMS EFCC OVER FREEZE ON OSUN GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS
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By:Tajudeen Aminat
The Nigerian Bar Association has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over its decision to freeze the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account, arguing that the anti-graft agency lacks the constitutional authority to impose a blanket restriction on a state’s finances without first obtaining a valid court order.
The EFCC directed First Bank to place a post-no-debit restriction on the account as part of an investigation into the alleged diversion of about ₦11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and FAAC allocations. According to the commission, the restriction became necessary after investigators detected suspicious transfers of large sums into several corporate accounts. The agency maintained that the move was preventive, lawful and unrelated to the forthcoming Osun governorship election.
NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), however, warned that freezing a state’s accounts without due process could paralyse governance and constitute an abuse of power. While acknowledging that the EFCC could obtain court orders to freeze specific accounts linked to alleged fraud, he insisted the commission could not lawfully impose a blanket freeze on all state government accounts.
Several Senior Advocates of Nigeria echoed similar concerns, maintaining that any account-freezing order must be backed by judicial authorisation, while others argued that the EFCC could only impose a temporary stop order under limited circumstances provided by law.
The controversy has drawn sharp political reactions, with opposition parties accusing the Federal Government of using federal institutions to intimidate the Osun State Government ahead of the August 15 governorship election. The All Progressives Congress, however, defended the EFCC’s action, insisting the commission should be allowed to investigate alleged financial crimes without political interference. Meanwhile, the Osun State Government has vowed to challenge the account freeze in court.
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