BREAKING: Osun Govt heads to court to challenge EFCC account freeze
Osun State Government Initiates Legal Action Against EFCC for Account Freezing
The Osun State Government has filed a lawsuit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following the freezing of its bank accounts. State officials are contesting the legality of the EFCC’s actions, arguing that such measures could disrupt government operations.
On Wednesday, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Oluwole Jimi-Bada announced that he was directed by Governor Ademola Adeleke to initiate proceedings in the Federal High Court to challenge the EFCC’s actions. The state government became aware that the EFCC had issued a “Post No Debit” directive to First Bank, where multiple government accounts are held, thereby limiting transaction capabilities.
Jimi-Bada emphasized that while the EFCC has the authority to investigate financial transactions, it does not possess the legal right to freeze a state government’s accounts without a prior 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 a court order,” he stated.
He expressed concerns that these restrictions could significantly impair the administration of government and the provision of public services across the state. “This step will affect government operations, but we will challenge the move and ensure that the agency acts within the bounds of the law,” he reiterated.
Additionally, Commissioner for Finance Sola Ogungbile alleged that police officers had visited the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo, resulting in the arrest of several bank employees during this incident.
Ogungbile also refuted claims that state resources were being misappropriated to finance Governor Adeleke’s re-election campaign, insisting that public funds were not being diverted for political purposes. He urged the EFCC to consider the broader implications of the account restrictions on governance and the well-being of residents who rely on government services.
Prior to the account freezing, Governor Adeleke had raised alarms about potential plans by the EFCC to freeze all state government accounts as well as those of senior officials. In a statement released by Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Kolapo Alimi, the governor described the reported actions as lacking legal justification and suggested that they were intended to disrupt government activities in advance of the upcoming August 15 gubernatorial election. He declared, “The plot to freeze the state government accounts is meant to paralyze government activities ahead of the August 15 governorship election,” reaffirming that the EFCC lacked the legal authority to freeze a state government’s accounts without due judicial process.
