The Centre for Public Accountability, Rule of Law and Transparency Initiative has expressed support for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s restriction of an account belonging to the Osun State Government, while faulting the presidential directive ordering the commission to lift the court order.
The organisation, led by Dr Raymond Chukwuebuka Ndukwe, said the EFCC should be allowed to carry out its constitutional and statutory responsibilities without political interference, arguing that the timing of an investigation should not prevent the commission from acting on suspected financial crimes.
The group said President Bola Tinubu had acknowledged the EFCC’s authority to act under the court order but considered the timing inappropriate.
According to the organisation, “there is no such thing as a good or bad time for the EFCC to carry out its constitutional duties”, stressing that the commission’s mandate should not be influenced by political considerations.
It said Osun State was not the first state whose government account had been restricted by the EFCC, citing previous cases involving Benue State in 2018, Kogi State during the second tenure of former Governor Yahaya Bello, and Edo State in 2025.
The organisation argued that the 1999 Constitution and the laws establishing the EFCC empower the commission to investigate and combat economic and financial crimes, including the alleged misappropriation of public funds.
“This constitutional and statutory mandate is not subject to political convenience,” the group said.
On the Osun case, the organisation claimed that the EFCC had commenced investigations into matters involving the state government before restricting the account.
According to the group, intelligence and preliminary findings indicated that substantial amounts of money were withdrawn from Osun State Government accounts between August 3 and 4, 2026, with significant transfers allegedly made to private companies.
It said the “scale, timing, and destination” of the transactions raised concerns about the possible dissipation of public funds, prompting the EFCC to impose the restriction as a preservative measure while investigations continued.
The group dismissed concerns that the action was inappropriate because of the approaching Osun governorship election, arguing that the EFCC should not suspend investigations simply because an election was imminent.
It also urged politicians, political parties, civil society organisations and members of the public to stop politicising the activities of anti-corruption agencies.
The organisation cited Section 7(6) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which provides:
“Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (5), the Unit or the Commission or the authorised representatives shall place a stop order not exceeding 72 hours, on any account or transaction if it is discovered that such account or transaction is suspected to be involved in any unlawful act.”
It further cited Section 7(7), which provides for the expiry of the stop notice where the required court order has not been served on the financial institution, as well as Section 7(8), which empowers the Federal High Court to order the blocking of funds, accounts or securities under specified circumstances.
The group also relied on the Court of Appeal’s decision in EFCC v. A-G Benue State & Ors (2022) LPELR-58696(CA), which it said affirmed the EFCC’s authority to place a 72-hour stop order on an account suspected of involvement in financial crime without first obtaining a court order.
The court, according to the organisation, also held that:
“…that a State Government Account and in the instant suit, the Account of Benue State Government, maintained with any bank or financial institution in Nigeria, fall within the class of bank accounts capable of or liable to be frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in accordance with due process of law.”
The organisation also cited NPG Properties & Construction Works Ltd v. Zenith Bank Plc (2023) 15 NWLR (Pt. 1908) 423, saying the Court of Appeal recognised the EFCC’s authority under applicable money laundering legislation to place a stop order of up to 72 hours on an account or transaction suspected to be linked to criminal activity.
It further referenced the EFCC’s freezing of accounts belonging to some Federal Government agencies in connection with the Betta Edu investigation as another example of the commission exercising its powers over government-linked accounts.
The Centre for Public Accountability, Rule of Law and Transparency Initiative therefore reiterated its support for the EFCC and called on relevant authorities to allow the commission to investigate suspected financial crimes without “politicisation or undue interference”.
Signed by Dr Raymond Chukwuebuka Ndukwe, the group said protecting public funds should be treated as a constitutional responsibility rather than a partisan issue.
