Jelili Gbadamosi
The Osun State Government has approached the Federal High Court to challenge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the freezing of its bank accounts, describing the anti-graft agency’s action as unlawful and capable of disrupting governance.
The state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, disclosed on Wednesday that Governor Ademola Adeleke had directed him to institute legal proceedings against the EFCC over the restriction placed on the state’s accounts.
According to Jimi-Bada, the government received information that the EFCC issued a “Post No Debit” directive to First Bank, where several state government accounts are domiciled, effectively preventing transactions.
He argued that while the anti-graft agency has the statutory powers to investigate financial transactions, it cannot freeze a state government’s accounts without first obtaining a court order.
“I have the mandate of the governor to proceed to the Federal High Court to challenge this move. The EFCC can investigate the accounts, but it cannot freeze them without an order of the court,” he said.
The Attorney General warned that the restriction could cripple day-to-day government operations and hinder the delivery of essential public services if allowed to continue.
Also reacting, the Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, alleged that police officers visited the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested some members of the bank’s staff during the incident.
Ogungbile also dismissed allegations that state funds were being used to finance Governor Adeleke’s re-election campaign, insisting that public resources were not being diverted for political purposes.
He urged the EFCC to consider the wider implications of the account restriction on governance and the welfare of residents who rely on government services.
The legal action follows earlier concerns raised by Governor Adeleke over an alleged plan by the EFCC to freeze the accounts of the state government and senior government officials ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
In an earlier statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor described the reported move as lacking legal basis and alleged that it was intended to paralyse government activities before the 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.
The EFCC had yet to issue an official response to the Osun State Government’s claims as of the time of filing this report.
