Ahead of the governorship election in Osun State, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has allegedly frozen the account of the state government domiciled with a first generation bank.

The development, however, elicited angry reactions as Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Accord Party, African Democratic Congress, ADC, and legal practitioners faulted the move.

The governor also said he had instructed his Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice to challenge the action in court.

The EFCC had in a letter sighted by Vanguard, dated August 5, 2026, addressed to a first generation bank, requested that the bank should place “post-no-debit” numbered, 2017170947.

The letter signed by EFCC’s Director of Investigation, Adenike Babalola, said the request was pursuant to section 38 (1) & (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act 2004 and Section 24 of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act.

It’s abuse of rule of law —Adeleke

However, Governor Adeleke, while addressing newsmen in Osogbo, demanded answers for the action of the EFCC without legal grounds, describing the action as an abuse of the rule of law.

He called out the EFCC Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, to justify the reason behind the commission’s action.

The governor said: “All I ask is for the EFCC chairman to explain to the good people of Osun State and to Nigerians why he froze Osun State Government account, and show proof to support whatever reason he presents.

“This and all other illegalities being visited on Osun State are turning our democracy into a huge joke.

“I have instructed my Attorney General to challenge this illegality at the Federal High Court in Osogbo.”

EFCC lacks power to freeze accounts — Osun AG

Also kicking against the actions of the anti-graft commission, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the State, Mr Oluwole Jimi-Bada, SAN, said the anti-graft agency lacked powers to freeze the statutory account of a state.

Jimi-Bada said: “Let me state respectfully that the government of Osun State recognizes and respects the statutory mandate of the EFCC and all lawful institutions of government.

‘’This statement is not intended as an attack on any person, government, agency or political party; it is purely a legal position taken in the interest of constitutional order and due process.

“Our considered view is that Section 24 of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act, and Section 38 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act 2004 do not confer on the EFCC the rational power to freeze, restrict or interfere with the statutory account of the state government.

“The statutory account of Osun State contains public funds meant for governance, salaries, pension, health care, education, security and other essential obligations to the people.

“Any restriction on such funds raises serious constitutional questions, which in our respective view should be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. For avoidance of doubt, Osun State is not opposed to any lawful investigation; we remain committed to transparency, accountability and cooperation with all lawful agencies; however, all investigative power will be exercised within the limits of the Constitution and applicable laws.”

Why we froze Osun account – EFCC

However, explaining why it froze the state’s account yesterday, EFCC said it was compelled to freeze the account after it noticed huge transfers of funds into different corporate entities, while its investigations were on-going.

EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale in a statement justifying the action last night, said: “The commission is compelled to publicly address issues pertaining to its preventive moves in freezing the bank account of the Osun State government, without prejudice to the imminent governorship election in the state.

“The commission has been busy investigating the Osun State Government since March, 2026, regarding alleged fraudulent handling of Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federal Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, account to the tune of N11 billion.

“To this end, some officials of the state government, especially the Accountant-General of the state, have had interview sessions with investigators of the EFCC. ““These ongoing investigations of the state government would not have warranted any placement of Post No Debit order on its account but for the precipitate and unwarranted movement of funds from the accounts to different suspicious accounts since August 2, 2026.

“The commission noticed huge transfers of funds into different corporate entities and had to swiftly halt the trend by freezing the accounts from which such heavy funds are being moved. ““The EFCC’s preventive mandate is a public-inclined framework of safeguarding public funds, assets and resources. The commission cannot watch idly while a state government’s account is being pillaged.

“While the commission is fully aware of the impending governorship election in Osun State, it has a responsibility to act in defence of the sanctity of the funds of the state. It will be uncharitable for the commission to allow an excuse of an upcoming election to fold its arms to perform its legally-assigned functions. ““It is equally needful to state that the commission is keeping watch over the finances of other states like Osun State. Many of these states are on the investigative radar of the commission to ensure accountability and probity.

“The commission has always pointed out that it is non-partisan and non-sectarian but always working in the overall interests of Nigerians. The Osun State Government account was frozen to save public funds from being looted.““The public is enjoined to ignore false narratives and deliberate demonization of the works of the EFCC. The interests of all Nigerians are greater and will always be protected by the commission,” the statement added.“

It’s an attempt to aid APC — Accord Party

Reacting to the development, Accord Party accused the EFCC of freezing Osun government’s accounts in a bid to tilt the August 15 governorship election in favour of the All Progressives Congress, APC, vowing to challenge the action in court.

The National Chairman of the party, Chief Maxwell Mgbudem, who described the alleged action as unconstitutional, claimed the anti-graft agency acted without first obtaining a court order.

Mgbudem warned against any attempt to manipulate the outcome of the governorship poll.

He said: “This injustice, illegality, impunity and recklessness shall not stand. It’s part of the wider plot to use the police and federal agencies to capture Osun State for the opposition All Progressives Congress, which the people have since rejected, having brought untold hardship and misery to them.

“This unconstitutional action of the EFCC shall be challenged in court as the temple of justice and last hope of all aggrieved citizens. In a haste to cripple the state, the anti-graft agency could not obtain a court order to freeze the government accounts, conscious of the fact that the court would not grant it.”

This is political terrorism— ADC

Also taking a swipe at the EFCC, African Democratic Congress, ADC, accused the Federal Government of using the freezing of statutory allocations to local governments in Osun State as a political weapon.

The party said the political standoff is no longer just about politicians, arguing that ordinary residents are now bearing the consequences as funds meant for workers’ salaries, primary healthcare, schools and other essential grassroots services remained tied up in the dispute. The ADC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, alleged that withholding of local government funds was part of a wider campaign to weaken Osun State Government before the election.

Abdullahi said: “Political opponents are not enemy combatants. Opposition-controlled states are not occupied territories. Public institutions do not belong to whichever party temporarily controls the Federal Government

“This sinister move confirms that the Tinubu-led Federal Government will do anything, including starving the people of Osun State, to achieve its political objectives. Yet no democracy worthy of the name deliberately sacrifices the welfare of innocent citizens in pursuit of partisan political ends.

“We have noted earlier that President Tinubu’s mentality, which regards political contests as warfare, constitutes a serious threat to democratic engagement. But even in war, there are rules of engagement that recognise human dignity and place limits on the conduct of adversaries.’’

The statement also alleged that some elements within the Nigeria Police had protected armed groups involved in acts of political intimidation, saying such actions, if established, would blur the line between the impartial authority of the state and partisan political interests.

“Taken together, these actions reveal something more dangerous than ordinary political competition. They point to the deliberate promotion of a state of anarchy by federal authorities and agencies whose constitutional duty is to preserve law, order, and democratic stability,’’ Abdullahi said.

Lawyers slam EFCC, call for adherence to due process

Legal practitioners in the country also weighed in on the reported freezing of Osun State government’s account by the federal government, calling for strict adherence to the rule of law.

The lawyers said the federal and the Osun State governments must handle the issue with caution to avoid inflaming tensions in the state, which is only about 10 days from its scheduled governorship election.

No court ’ll grant such an order—Edun

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Kunle Edun, while condemning the action some days before the election, said no court would grant such an order.

Edun added that such action was capable of shutting down the state, noting that the optics created by the decision were very bad.

He said: “This is not good news. The Osun State gubernatorial election is days ahead and to now hear that the EFCC has frozen the bank accounts of Osun State government. What is the intention?

‘’I want to believe that no court will grant such an order because freezing such accounts amounts to shutting down the entire state. The optics created by this ill-advised decision are very bad.““The legality of EFCC interfering in how state governments manage their funds has been the subject of appellate decisions which do not support the action of the EFCC.

‘’It is a desecration of the principle of federalism for a federal agency to stop the management of the finances of a state government without the consent of any of the organs of the State government.”

EFCC must obtain court order—Omezie

Another legal practitioner, Mr Chukwuma Omezie, said the EFCC’s action raised serious constitutional and legal concerns, noting that it must obtain court orders to freeze accounts.“He said: “The reported freezing of Osun State’s salary account by the EFCC, coming just days before the governorship election, raises serious constitutional and legal concerns.

‘’While the EFCC has statutory powers to investigate financial crimes and, where necessary, obtain court orders to freeze accounts linked to suspected illicit funds, such powers must be exercised strictly in accordance with due process and without creating the impression of political interference.““If the action was backed by a valid court order based on credible evidence of financial misconduct, it would be difficult to fault the commission purely because of the timing.““However, if the freeze affects the payment of workers’ salaries or essential government functions, especially in the heat of an election, the EFCC owes the public a clear explanation to dispel allegations of selective enforcement or abuse of power.’’

“It smacks of executive recklessness— Ufeli

Also lampooning the EFCC, another legal practitioner, Mr Evans Ufeli, said the move smackede of executive recklessness and undermined public trust.

Ufeli, however, urged the anti-graft agency to exercise caution and ensure its interventions do not punish innocent citizens.“He said: “Freezing Osun State’s salary account by the EFCC just days before the governorship election smacks of executive recklessness and undermines public trust. Such actions disrupt workers’ livelihoods and can be interpreted as politically motivated interference rather than genuine accountability. The EFCC should exercise caution and ensure its interventions do not destabilise democratic processes or punish innocent citizens.”

“It’s a dangerous precedent—Musa

An Abuja-based lawyer, Abdullahi Musa, who described it as a dangerous precedent, said EFCC’s action was unlawful.

Musa said: “This is a dangerous precedent that may cascade beyond Osun State, considering that the nation is heading towards the general elections next year.

“Even though the FG or EFCC is legally empowered to request that a bank account of any person, corporate entity or government institution be frozen or placed on Post-No-Debit restriction, such action must be based on a cogent and verifiable ground.

Osun govt should challenge action— Ojonugwa

Another lawyer, Bartholomew Ojonugwa, recalled that the federal government previously withheld statutory allocations meant for local governments in Osun State, a development he said was litigated up to the Supreme Court.

Ojonugwa said: “Osun State government had at that time alleged that its withheld LG funds were later paid into accounts belonging to Chairmen and Councillors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, but sacked by the court.

“Although the Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, AGoF, denied that allegation, this recent report of the freezing of accounts has further lent credence to that claim.

“My advice is that if it is the account of the state that was frozen, the Attorney General of Osun State should immediately challenge the Federal Government’s action in court.’’

APC demands EFCC, ICPC vote-buying probe

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State has tasked the anti-graft agencies to probe the deployment of state resources by Governor Adeleke for alleged vote buying.

The council, in a statement by its Media Committee Chairman, Remi Omowaiye, tackled the state government for engaging in wide-spread vote buying with state resources.

Omowaye said: “It is deeply disheartening that the Osun State Government has officially commenced a widespread vote-buying scheme. The administration is systematically requesting citizens to submit their bank account details to receive a political inducement of N20,000.

“Osun government paid a sum of N20,000 each directly to the workers’ and residents’ bank accounts. An NYSC Corps member who is paid N5,000 monthly suddenly got an alert of N20,000 every 10 days to the election.

“We urge the good people of Osun State to remain highly vigilant and wary of these deceptive antics.

We paid palliative to workers—Govt

However, Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, in statement disclosed that the state government paid another round of palliative to workers in service of the state.

He said: “As part of our commitment to civil servants of Osun State, the backbone of our administration, we have once again disbursed palliatives to augment their salaries.

“Notably, we commenced periodic palliative payments even before implementing the new minimum wage increase, which positioned Osun as one of the first states in the federation to do so.

“This stands in stark contrast to the previous administration, which weaponised poverty and systematically deprived civil servants of their earned salaries and entitlements.’’ (Vanguard)

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