Governor Adeleke Sues EFCC Over Frozen Government Accounts

The Osun State Government has commenced legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the freezing of its bank accounts, insisting the anti-graft agency acted outside its legal powers.

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

Jimi-Bada disclosed that the management of First Bank received a “Post No Debit” directive from the EFCC on Wednesday affecting accounts belonging to the Osun State Government.

Expressing the state’s readiness to contest the action, the Attorney-General said:

“I have the mandate of the governor to proceed to the Federal High Court to challenge this move. EFCC can investigate the accounts but it can’t freeze the accounts without order of court.

“This step will affect government running but we will challenge the move and ensure that the agency acts within the ambit of the law.”

The Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, also criticised the development, alleging that police operatives stormed the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested members of the bank’s staff.

He further denied claims that Governor Ademola Adeleke was using public funds to prosecute his re-election campaign and urged the anti-graft agency to consider the wider implications of its action on the welfare of residents.

The latest development followed an earlier alarm raised by Governor Adeleke that the EFCC was planning to freeze all Osun State Government accounts.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor also alleged that the commission intended to freeze the accounts of top government functionaries.

According to the statement, Adeleke said:

“The plot to freeze the state government accounts is meant to paralyze government activities ahead of the August 15th governorship election.”

The governor added that there was no legal basis for the action, insisting that the anti-graft agency had no statutory authority to freeze the accounts of a state government.