OSUN TO SUE EFCC OVER FREEZING OF STATE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS

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By; Sunmola Ganiyat

The Osun State Government has announced plans to institute legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following the freezing of its bank accounts.

The state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, disclosed on Wednesday that Governor Ademola Adeleke had authorised him to challenge the action at the Federal High Court.

According to Jimi-Bada, the EFCC issued a “Post No Debit” directive to First Bank, where the state’s accounts are domiciled, effectively restricting access to the funds.

He argued that while the anti-graft agency has the authority to investigate government accounts, it cannot legally freeze them without obtaining a court order.

The Attorney General warned that the action could disrupt government operations but insisted the state would seek judicial intervention to ensure the EFCC acts within the confines of the law.

Also reacting, the Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, alleged that police officers stormed the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested some bank officials.

Ogungbile maintained that Governor Adeleke was not using state funds to finance his re-election campaign and urged the EFCC to consider the potential impact of the account restriction on governance and the welfare of residents.

The development comes hours after Governor Adeleke alleged that the EFCC was planning to freeze the accounts of the Osun State Government and those of senior government officials ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

In a statement issued earlier on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor described the move as unlawful and alleged it was aimed at paralysing government activities before the election.

The state government insists there is no legal basis for freezing its accounts and has vowed to challenge the EFCC’s action in court.