By Oscar Okhifo
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has condemned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the reported freezing of one of the state government’s bank accounts, describing the action as unconstitutional, politically motivated and a direct assault on democratic governance, just 10 days before the August 15 governorship election.
Adeleke reacted on Wednesday following reports that the EFCC placed one of the Osun State Government’s accounts with First Bank under a “Post No Debit” restriction. The account is reportedly used for key government financial transactions, including the payment of workers’ salaries.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the governor insisted that the anti-graft agency had no legal authority to freeze the account of a constitutionally elected government.
“You have no right to freeze Osun State Government accounts. This is a democratically elected government and not a criminal enterprise,” Adeleke said.
He argued that imposing restrictions on the state’s finances at such a critical political period amounted to an attempt to cripple governance and interfere with the democratic process ahead of the governorship election.
According to the governor, the state had received credible intelligence indicating that the EFCC was planning to extend the restriction to other government accounts and even to the personal accounts of some senior government officials.
“The plot to freeze the state government’s accounts is designed to cripple government activities ahead of the August 15 governorship election. If true, it represents the height of lawlessness,” he stated.
Adeleke warned that the continued restriction could disrupt the payment of salaries and pensions, slow the execution of ongoing public projects and ultimately hurt ordinary residents of the state.
“The people of Osun should not be made to suffer because of political intimidation,” he said.
The governor also accused unnamed political actors of using federal institutions to destabilise his administration ahead of the election.
“This is a threat to democracy and a dangerous precedent. Federal institutions must never be turned into instruments of electoral manipulation,” he added.
Adeleke disclosed that the state government had directed its legal team to challenge the action in court, maintaining that no valid court order authorising the freezing of the account had been served on the state government.
The development has further heightened political tensions in Osun State, where political parties are intensifying campaigns ahead of the August 15 governorship election, in which Adeleke is seeking a second term in office.
The alleged freezing of the account has also drawn criticism from opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Young Progressives Party (YPP), both of which accused the Federal Government of using state institutions to influence the political environment ahead of the election.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not issued an official statement on the governor’s allegations or disclosed the legal basis for placing the restriction on the account.