The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen Osun State Government bank account, while the affected account, domiciled with First Bank, was placed on “Post No Debit (PND)” status, preventing withdrawals and other debit transactions from the account
Penpushing reports that the Senior Special Assistant on Media Monitoring to Governor Ademola Adeleke, Abdul-Jeleel Samakin confirmed the development explaining that the account is among those used by the state government for official financial transactions, including salary payments.
The account restriction comes hours after Governor Ademola Adeleke alleged that the anti-graft agency planned to freeze the state’s accounts ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
Penpushing further reports that the development has, however, escalated political tensions just 10 days before the governorship election in the state, however, as at the time of filing this report the anti-graft agency had not publicly disclosed the reason for the restriction on the account as at the time of filing this report.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, in a statement on Wednesday described the alleged move as an attempt to paralyse government activities ahead of the governorship election
Penpushing also reports that Alimi argued that the anti-graft agency lacked the legal authority to freeze the account of a state government and insisted there was no legal basis for such action.
“The plan, if true, amounts to the height of lawlessness,” the statement said, adding that any attempt to restrict the state’s finances days before the election would undermine governance and affect public service delivery.
Penpushing reports that in recent time Osun State Government has witnessed a series of high-profile confrontations involving security agencies, including the police raid on the residence of Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, over allegations of vote-buying and harbouring a wanted suspect.
The freezing of the account adds another layer to the political and security controversies that have dominated preparations for the August 15 governorship election, while operation, which led to the arrest of Igbalaye and five others, drew sharp criticism from the state government and the ruling Accord Party (AP), which accused security agencies and major opposition party of targeting government officials, however, Igbalaye was later released while police said investigations were continuing.
Penpushing further reports that it would be recalled that following sustained protests and petitions seeking the redeployment of the former Osun Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, over allegations of partisanship, the Inspector General of Police subsequently redeployed him and appointed a new commissioner to oversee security during the election.
The Osun State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada on Wednesday, said he has the mandate of the governor to sue the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after the anti- graft agency froze government accounts.
Penpushing also reports that Jimi-Bada said a ‘Post no debit’ letter from the anti-graft agency was forwarded to the management of the First Bank where Osun government accounts were domiciled on Wednesday.
The commissioner, who expressed readiness to proceed to court, said the move by the anti-graft agency may hamper government’s business, pointing out that the Governor was not using state funds to run its campaign for reelection.
“I have the mandate of the governor to proceed to the Federal High Court to challenge this move. EFCC can investigate the accounts but it can’t freeze the accounts without order of court. This step will affect government running but we will challenge the move and ensure that the agency acts within the ambit of the law,” Jimi-Bada said.
Penpushing reports that Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile corroborating the Attorney General alleged that police operatives had stormed the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested staff members of the bank.
The commissioner emphasized that the Governor was not using state funds for his campaigns and urged the anti-graft agency to consider the implications that the move will have on the general well-being of the residents.
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