Account Freezing: Osun govt dismisses EFCC’s ₦11b alleged looting, says action illegal

Osun State Government Denies EFCC Allegations of Account Freezing

The Osun State Government has rejected claims from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that its bank accounts were frozen due to an alleged misappropriation of 11 billion naira.

In a statement released Thursday in Osogbo, Kolapo Alimi, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, characterized the EFCC’s assertions as an attempt to rationalize an unlawful act.

Alimi stated, “The accounts were frozen to prevent the payment of palliatives approved for civil servants, a decision made under the orders of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, who is now the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.”

He further alleged that the primary motivation behind the EFCC’s actions was to obstruct the disbursement of promised palliatives to state workers amid ongoing economic challenges. Alimi described the freezing of the accounts as indicative of Oyetola’s longstanding opposition to workers’ rights.

Despite the account freeze, Alimi noted that the state government successfully provided the promised palliatives following negotiations with labor unions.

The commissioner firmly dismissed the EFCC’s claims regarding the diversion of public funds, asserting that the state’s resources are focused on infrastructure projects, worker welfare, and other developmental initiatives. “There are no funds to loot in Osun State; the limited resources we have are dedicated to the welfare of our citizens,” he said.

Alimi also accused the EFCC of conducting a politically motivated investigation that began in March 2023, alleging that senior government officials faced repeated harassment without evidence of wrongdoing. He emphasized that the commission’s actions could potentially damage the state’s reputation.

The EFCC announced on Wednesday that it froze Osun State’s accounts as a preventive measure while investigating alleged financial transactions involving approximately 11 billion naira. The commission maintained that this action was necessary to safeguard funds during its inquiry, denying any political influences in its operations.

In response to the EFCC’s actions, the Osun State Government has initiated legal proceedings against the commission, challenging the legality of the account freeze and seeking judicial relief. The government contended that if the EFCC possesses credible evidence of misconduct, it should pursue legal action against those implicated rather than imposing financial restrictions.

The state administration argued that the EFCC’s allegations are unfounded and intended to undermine its credibility.

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