Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday shared the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s statement defending its decision to freeze the bank account belonging to the Osun State Government ahead of the August 15 gubernatorial election in the state.

Onanuga reposted the statement on his verified X account less than an hour after it was issued by the Commission.

Tribune Online reports that the EFCC said the accounts were frozen to stop the alleged diversion of public funds while it continues its investigation into suspected financial irregularities involving the Osun State Government.

In the statement issued on Wednesday, the Commission disclosed that it opened an investigation into the state government in March 2026 over the alleged mismanagement of Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations amounting to about N11 billion.

The agency said it has questioned several government officials, including the state’s Accountant General, as part of the ongoing probe.

According to the EFCC, it imposed a Post No Debit restriction on the government’s accounts after investigators uncovered what it described as suspicious transfers of substantial amounts of money into different corporate accounts from August 2, 2026.

The Commission stated that the accounts would not have been restricted if investigators had not observed what it called the “precipitate and unwarranted movement of funds” during the investigation.

It maintained that the action was taken in line with its legal mandate to protect public funds and prevent the alleged misappropriation of government resources.

While recognising that Osun State is preparing for a governorship election, the EFCC said the electoral process would not stop it from carrying out its statutory duties.

“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,” the statement read.

The anti-corruption agency further revealed that it is also scrutinising the finances of other states, adding that multiple state governments are currently under investigation as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and transparency in the use of public funds.

The EFCC also reiterated that it operates without political bias, insisting that its actions are guided solely by the interest of Nigerians.

The Commission urged Nigerians to ignore what it described as misleading narratives over the freezing of the Osun State Government’s accounts, stressing that the restriction was necessary to safeguard public funds while investigations continue. (Nigerian Tribune)

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