The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly placed one of the Osun State Government’s bank accounts under restriction less than two weeks before the state’s governorship election, sparking fresh political concerns.
Documents obtained on Wednesday indicate that the account, domiciled with First Bank and reportedly used for the payment of workers salaries, has been placed on a post No debit status by the anti graft agency.
The reported action comes just days after Governor Ademola Adeleke alleged that the commission was planning to freeze the state’s accounts, as well as those of some senior government officials, ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
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Adeleke Alleges Attempt to Disrupt Government
Reacting to the development, Governor Adeleke described the reported restriction as an attempt to undermine the operations of his administration at a critical political period.
In a statement issued through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor said:
“The reported action is a deliberate attempt to disrupt government operations in the run up to the governorship election.”
Adeleke also questioned the legal basis for the restriction, insisting that the anti-graft agency had no statutory authority to freeze the accounts of a state government.
“There is no legal justification for freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government. The EFCC lacks the statutory authority to impose such restrictions,” the statement added.
Government Source Confirms Restriction
A source within the Osun State Government, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly, confirmed that the account had already been restricted.
According to the source, the account is no longer accessible for transactions, while Governor Adeleke is expected to brief journalists and provide further details on the development.
The restriction has raised concerns over its potential impact on government operations, particularly if the affected account is used for workers’ salaries and other official payments.
EFCC Yet to Respond
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not issued an official statement on the reported restriction, and the reason for placing the account on a “Post No Debit” status remained unclear.
The development comes against the backdrop of heightened political activities in Osun State as political parties intensify campaigns ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
