EFCC has come under criticism from Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who alleged that the anti-graft agency froze the state’s bank account without a court order and vowed to challenge the action in court.
OSOGBO, Nigeria — Governor Ademola Adeleke has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of directing the freezing of the Osun State Government’s bank account without obtaining a court order.
Adeleke made the allegation on Wednesday while addressing journalists in Osogbo, describing the action as unconstitutional and contrary to the principles of due process.
According to the governor, the state government received a letter from its banker informing it that the EFCC had instructed the bank to place a restriction on the state’s account.
“This morning, we received a letter from our banker, forwarding a letter from the EFCC instructing the bank to freeze the Osun State Government account. This action was taken without any court order,” Adeleke said.
The governor condemned what he described as a disregard for due process, insisting that the rule of law must always prevail in a democratic society.
He warned that his administration would not accept actions by federal agencies that, in his view, undermine the constitutional rights of sub-national governments.
Adeleke further described the alleged freezing of the account as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic system, warning that allowing such actions to go unchecked could weaken the country’s constitutional order.
He called on the Chairman of the EFCC to publicly explain the reasons behind the action and provide evidence to justify the agency’s directive.
The governor also disclosed that the Osun State Attorney General has been instructed to challenge the EFCC’s action before the Federal High Court in Osogbo.
As of the time of filing this report, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had not issued an official response to the allegations made by the Osun State Government.
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