UPDATE: Adeleke drags EFCC to court over freeze on Osun account

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Wednesday demanded that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, explain the freezing of the state government’s account.

Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo, Adeleke called on the anti-graft agency to disclose the reason for the action and provide evidence to justify its decision.

“All I ask is for the EFCC Chairman to explain to the good people of Osun State and to Nigerians in general why he froze the Osun State Government’s account and provide proof to support whatever reason he presents,” the governor said.

Adeleke disclosed that the state government received a letter from its banker forwarding a communication from the EFCC directing that the account be frozen.

According to a copy of the EFCC letter seen by Western Post in Osogbo, the commission requested First Bank to place a “Post-No-Debit” restriction on the Osun State Government Statutory Allocation Account, citing provisions of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The governor maintained that the action was unconstitutional, saying: “We are supposed to be in a democracy where the rule of law must always prevail. We will therefore not accept a situation where federal agencies trample on the constitutional rights of subnational governments.

“This is a threat to our democracy. If we all keep quiet and allow this illegality, very soon whatever is left of our democracy will be completely eroded. This and all other illegalities being visited on Osun State are turning our democracy into a huge joke”.

Adeleke added that he had directed the state’s Attorney General, Barr. Oluwole Jimi-Bada, to challenge the account freeze at the Federal High Court in Osogbo.