Why Did EFCC Freeze Osun Government Account Days Before Governorship Election?
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.
According to Vanguard, the account, said to be used for the payment of workers’ salaries, was placed on a “Post No Debit” restriction by the anti-graft agency.
The development followed Governor Ademola Adeleke’s allegation that the EFCC was planning to freeze the state government’s accounts as well as those of some top government officials.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor described the reported action as an attempt to disrupt government operations ahead of the governorship poll.
Adeleke argued that there was no legal justification for freezing the state’s accounts, insisting that the EFCC lacks the statutory authority to take such action against the state government.
A government source was quoted as saying that the account had already been frozen.
“I can confirm that the state government account has been frozen by the EFCC. It is no longer an allegation. The governor will address the press shortly to update the public on the situation,” the source said.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not issued an official statement on the alleged account freeze.
