EFCC Freezes Osun Government Account, Adeleke Vows Legal Challenge

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account domiciled with First Bank as part of an ongoing investigation into the state’s finances.

Governor Ademola Adeleke disclosed this during a press conference in Osogbo, describing the action as an attempt to disrupt the operations of his administration.

According to the governor, the EFCC had earlier invited several government officials for questioning and requested explanations regarding government transactions. However, he maintained that freezing the state’s statutory allocation account was beyond the commission’s legal powers.

While noting that a number of government officials had earlier been invited for questioning by the EFCC, Governor Adeleke said the state government would challenge the action in court, insisting that it was politically motivated and aimed at frustrating his re-election bid.

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The affected account, which is used for the payment of workers’ salaries, has been placed under a Post-No-Debit (PND) restriction, preventing withdrawals and other debit transactions while allowing deposits to continue pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The State Commissioner for Finance, Olusola Ogungbile, said a number of First Bank staff members had been arrested by the EFCC and subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Police for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimoh Bada, said the state government had directed its legal team to challenge the EFCC’s action at the Federal High Court in Osogbo.