The Osun State Government has announced plans to institute legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the freezing of its bank accounts, describing the move as unlawful and capable of disrupting government operations.
The state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, disclosed on Wednesday that Governor Ademola Adeleke had directed him to challenge the anti-graft agency’s 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, preventing transactions from being carried out.
He maintained that while the EFCC has the authority 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.
Jimi-Bada warned that the action could hamper government activities but assured residents that the administration would pursue legal means to protect the state’s interests.
“This step will affect government operations, but we will challenge the move and ensure that the agency acts within the ambit of the law,” he added.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, alleged that police operatives visited the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested some members of the bank’s staff.
Ogungbile further denied allegations that state funds were being used to finance Governor Adeleke’s re-election campaign, urging the EFCC to consider the potential impact of the account freeze on governance and the welfare of residents.
Earlier, Governor Adeleke had alleged that the EFCC was planning to freeze all Osun State Government accounts, as well as those belonging to top government officials.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor described the reported plan as an act of lawlessness.
He alleged that the move was intended to cripple government activities ahead of the August 15 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 quoted the governor as saying.
Adeleke further argued that there was no legal basis for freezing the state’s accounts, insisting that the EFCC lacked the authority to take such action without due legal process.
The EFCC had yet to officially respond to the allegations at the time of filing this report.
