The Osun State Government has filed a legal challenge against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the freezing of its bank accounts, describing the agency’s action as unconstitutional and beyond its statutory powers.
The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, disclosed on Wednesday that Governor Ademola Adeleke had directed him to institute legal proceedings at the Federal High Court to challenge the anti-graft agency’s action.
According to Jimi-Bada, the management of First Bank of Nigeria received a “Post No Debit” directive from the EFCC on Wednesday affecting accounts belonging to the Osun State Government.
He argued that while the EFCC has the power to investigate financial transactions, it lacks the legal authority to freeze government accounts without first obtaining a court order.
“I have the mandate of the governor to proceed to the Federal High Court to challenge this move. EFCC can investigate the accounts but it can’t freeze the accounts without order of court,” he said.
Jimi-Bada warned that the freezing of the accounts could disrupt government operations but expressed confidence that the courts would ensure the commission acts within the law.
Also reacting, the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, condemned the development, alleging that police operatives stormed the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested members of the bank’s staff.
He also denied allegations that Governor Adeleke was deploying state funds to finance his re-election campaign and urged the EFCC to consider the potential impact of the action on governance and public service delivery.
The legal action follows an earlier claim by Governor Adeleke that the anti-graft agency was planning to freeze all accounts belonging to the Osun State Government ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
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In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor alleged that the EFCC also planned to freeze the accounts of senior government officials.
According to Adeleke, the move was aimed at crippling the operations of his administration in the build-up to the governorship poll.
“The plot to freeze the state government accounts is meant to paralyze government activities ahead of the August 15 governorship election,” the governor said.
He maintained that there was no legal basis for the action, insisting that the EFCC has no statutory authority to freeze the accounts of a state government without due judicial process.
