Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Tuesday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of directing a commercial bank to freeze the state government’s account without a court order, describing the move as illegal and politically motivated just days before the state’s governorship election.
Addressing a press conference, Adeleke said the state received a letter from its banker conveying an EFCC directive to freeze the account.
“As if all these were not enough, this morning, we received a letter from our banker, forwarding a letter from the EFCC, instructing the bank to freeze Osun State Government Account. This action was taken without any court order,” the governor said.
Adeleke alleged that the action formed part of a wider campaign of intimidation against his administration and members of his Accord Party ahead of the August 15 governorship election. He accused former governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, of orchestrating the pressure, alleging that police raids, arrests and attacks on party members were politically motivated.
“All these intimidation and attacks were carried out on the order of Gboyega Oyetola over an election his candidate cannot win,” he said.
The governor said his administration would challenge the action in court.
“I have instructed my Attorney General to challenge this illegality at the Federal High Court Osogbo,” Adeleke said.
He also called on EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede to publicly explain the basis for the action.
“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 Osun State Government Account, and show proof to support whatever reason, he presents.”
The EFCC had not publicly responded to Adeleke’s allegations at the time of filing this report. The anti-graft agency has previously faced calls from the Osun APC campaign to investigate alleged financial irregularities involving the state government, including petitions seeking the freezing of accounts linked to an alleged ghost worker payroll scheme.
The allegations come amid heightened political tensions in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with repeated accusations and counter-accusations between the ruling Accord Party and the opposition APC over political violence and the conduct of security agencies.
