Adeleke administration alleges move is politically motivated as anti-graft agency remains silent on account restriction.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly frozen an Osun State Government account domiciled with First Bank, less than two weeks before the state’s governorship election scheduled for August 15.
Documents obtained by Vanguard indicated that the account, reportedly used for the payment of workers’ salaries, was placed under a “Post No Debit” restriction by the anti-graft agency.
The reported action came days after Governor Ademola Adeleke alleged that the EFCC was planning to freeze the state government’s accounts and those of top government officials ahead of the election.
Reacting to the development, the Osun State Government, through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, described the reported account restriction as an attempt to disrupt government activities in the build-up to the governorship poll.
The Adeleke administration maintained that there was no legal basis for freezing the state’s accounts, arguing that the EFCC does not have the statutory authority to impose such restrictions on a state government.
A source within the administration also confirmed that the account had been restricted, saying the governor would address the public on the development.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not issued an official statement on the alleged account freeze, while the reason for the restriction remained unclear.