EFCC Investigates 18 States Over Alleged Diversion of Public

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disclosed that it is currently investigating about 18 state governments over allegations of financial mismanagement and the suspected diversion of public funds.

The commission made the revelation while responding to questions surrounding its recent decision to place a temporary restriction on one of the Osun State Government’s bank accounts.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, the EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that investigations involving several state governments were ongoing but declined to identify the affected states.

According to him, revealing their identities at this stage could compromise the integrity of ongoing investigations.

“There are about 18 other states that we have ongoing investigations,” Uwujaren said.

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When pressed to disclose the states under investigation, he insisted that the commission would not do so while the cases remain active.

“Not running away per se, but not to jeopardise the investigation that is currently ongoing,” he added.

Uwujaren explained that the action taken against the Osun State Government’s account was not an isolated measure, noting that similar steps had either been implemented or were being considered in relation to other states where suspicious financial activities had been detected.

He cited a previous intervention involving the Edo State Government, saying the commission had restricted one of the state’s accounts before Governor Monday Okpebholo assumed office after receiving intelligence suggesting that public funds were being moved into suspicious accounts.

According to Uwujaren, the EFCC’s intervention helped preserve approximately $12 billion belonging to the state.

The EFCC spokesman rejected claims that the commission’s actions were politically motivated or directed at any specific administration.

“So this is not targeted at any particular government. We are simply doing our work under the law,” he said.

Responding to questions about why similar action was not taken during the Ekiti State governorship election, Uwujaren said each case is determined by intelligence available to investigators.

“We didn’t have any reason to intervene the way we are intervening now. And you don’t have access to the information that we have access to,” he stated.

Clarifying the situation in Osun State, Uwujaren said the commission had frozen only one statutory account, stressing that the state government remained free to operate its other bank accounts.

He explained that the restriction was temporary and subject to judicial approval within 72 hours.

According to him, the EFCC must either obtain a court order extending the restriction or lift it within the stipulated period.

Uwujaren said the commission acted under the provisions of Section 34 of the EFCC Act and Section 7(6) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which empower it to temporarily restrict accounts linked to suspicious financial transactions.

He further disclosed that the investigation involving Osun State predates the recent account restriction, revealing that the probe began in March.

According to him, investigators have already questioned several state government officials as part of the inquiry.

“The Osun State case didn’t start today. It started way back in March,” he said.

The disclosure that nearly 18 states are currently under EFCC investigation is expected to intensify scrutiny of public fund management by state governments across the country.

It also comes amid continued debate over the commission’s decision to restrict one of Osun State’s accounts—a move that has drawn criticism from the state government and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).