Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has filed a ₦2 billion suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), challenging the agency’s decision to freeze the state’s Federal Statutory Allocation Account.
The case, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, also lists the Attorney General of Osun State and the state’s Accountant General as co-plaintiffs.
Named as defendants are the EFCC, its Chairman, and First Bank Nigeria Limited.
In the suit, the plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether the EFCC has the legal authority to freeze, restrict, block, place a post-no-debit order on, or otherwise interfere with Osun State’s statutory allocation account without following due process.
They further argued that under the provisions of the Constitution, the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, such action cannot be taken without first obtaining a valid court order.
According to the originating summons filed by a legal team led by M. T. Adekilekun, SAN, the disputed account is Osun State Government’s Federal Statutory Allocation Account, Number 2017170947, maintained with First Bank.
The plaintiffs are specifically challenging an EFCC directive contained in a letter dated August 5, 2026, which allegedly instructed the bank to freeze or restrict operations on the account.
They contend that the directive was issued without any prior or concurrent court order and therefore lacks legal backing.
The suit asks the court to determine whether the action amounted to an unlawful exercise of power and a violation of constitutional provisions governing due process and the financial autonomy of the state.
The plaintiffs also argued that the restriction on the account interferes with the constitutional functions of the state government and its access to statutory allocations.
Osun State is seeking judicial declarations on the legality of the EFCC’s action, as well as ₦2 billion in damages over the freezing of the account.
