By Joy Yesufu
The Osun State Government has instituted legal proceedings against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the reported freezing of its bank accounts, describing the action as unlawful and capable of disrupting government operations.
The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, disclosed on Wednesday that Governor Ademola Adeleke had directed him to approach the Federal High Court to challenge the anti-graft agency’s action.
According to Jimi-Bada, the state government received information that the EFCC issued a “Post No Debit” directive to First Bank, where several government accounts are domiciled, effectively restricting transactions on the accounts.
He argued that while the EFCC has the statutory authority to investigate financial transactions, it cannot lawfully freeze the accounts of a state government without first obtaining a court order.
“I have the mandate of the governor to proceed to the Federal High Court to challenge this move. The EFCC can investigate the accounts, but it cannot freeze them without an order of the court,” Jimi-Bada said.
The Attorney-General warned that the restriction could adversely affect the day-to-day administration of government, including the delivery of essential public services across the state.
“This action will affect government operations, but we will challenge it and ensure that the agency acts within the ambit of the law,” he added.
Also reacting, the Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, alleged that police officers visited the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo during the incident and arrested some members of the bank’s staff.
Ogungbile also dismissed claims that public funds were being used to finance Governor Adeleke’s re-election campaign, insisting that government resources had not been diverted for political purposes.
He appealed to the EFCC to consider the wider implications of the account restriction on governance and the welfare of residents who depend on government services.
The latest development follows an earlier warning by Governor Adeleke that the EFCC was planning to freeze all Osun State Government accounts, as well as those of some senior government officials, ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor described the reported move as lacking legal justification and alleged that it was intended to paralyse government activities in the run-up to the poll.
“The plot to freeze the state government accounts is meant to paralyse government activities ahead of the August 15 governorship election,” the statement quoted the governor as saying.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not issued an official response to the allegations or the legal action instituted by the Osun State Government.
