- Osun plans legal action against the EFCC over frozen accounts
- The state says the agency acted without a court order
- Adeleke alleges the move is aimed at disrupting government activities
The Osun State Government has vowed to challenge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in court over the freezing of its bank accounts, describing the action as unlawful and capable of disrupting government activities.
The state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, disclosed on Wednesday that Governor Ademola Adeleke had authorised him to institute legal proceedings against the anti-graft agency over the development, Eko Hot Blog gathered
According to Jimi-Bada, the state government received a “Post No Debit” directive issued by the EFCC to the management of First Bank, where the state’s accounts are maintained.
He argued that while the commission has the authority to investigate financial transactions, it cannot freeze government accounts without first obtaining a court order.
The commissioner maintained that the action would negatively affect the day-to-day administration of the state, adding that the government would seek judicial intervention to ensure the EFCC operates within the limits of the law.
“We have the governor’s approval to approach the Federal High Court on this matter. The EFCC may investigate the accounts, but it cannot freeze them without an order of the court. We will challenge the action and defend the rule of law,” he said.
Jimi-Bada also dismissed claims that the Adeleke administration was using public funds to finance its governorship election campaign.
Supporting the Attorney General’s position, the Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, alleged that police officers had visited the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested some members of the bank’s staff.
Ogungbile insisted that the state government had not diverted public funds for political purposes and urged the EFCC to consider the impact the account freeze could have on governance and the welfare of residents.
Earlier on Wednesday, Governor Adeleke had alleged that the EFCC was planning to freeze all bank accounts belonging to the Osun State Government as well as those of senior government officials.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor described the reported move as an abuse of power if carried out.
He alleged that the action was aimed at crippling government operations ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state.
Adeleke further argued that there was no legal justification for freezing the accounts of a state government, insisting that the EFCC lacks the statutory authority to take such action without due legal process
