The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has placed one of the Osun State Government’s bank accounts under restriction, just days before the August 15 governorship election.
The affected account, domiciled with First Bank, was reportedly placed on a “Post No Debit” status, preventing transactions from being carried out. The account is said to be used for the payment of salaries to state workers.
The development comes shortly after Governor Ademola Adeleke raised concerns that the anti-graft agency was planning to freeze the state’s accounts as well as those belonging to some senior government officials.
In a statement issued on Wednesday through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor described the reported move as an attempt to disrupt government operations ahead of the governorship election.
According to the statement, Adeleke argued that there was no legal justification for such action and maintained that the EFCC does not have the statutory authority to freeze the accounts of a state government.
Hours later, documents seen by Vanguard reportedly showed that one of the state’s accounts had been placed under restriction.
A source close to the Osun State Government also confirmed the development.
“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.
The restriction is expected to affect transactions carried out through the account, which government sources said is used for the payment of workers’ salaries.
As of the time this report was filed, the EFCC had not released an official statement explaining the reason for placing the account on “Post No Debit” status.
The anti-graft agency has also not publicly responded to the allegations made earlier by Governor Adeleke regarding plans to freeze the state’s accounts.
Earlier today, Governor Adeleke alleged that there were plans to freeze the accounts of the Osun State Government and some top officials of his administration.
In the statement signed by Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor urged residents of the state to remain calm, insisting that his administration had acted within the law.
Adeleke maintained that there was no legal basis for any action that would restrict the state’s financial operations, warning that such a move could affect governance and the payment of public sector workers.
The governor said his administration would challenge any action it considered unlawful through the appropriate legal channels while continuing to keep residents informed of developments.
At the time the statement was issued, the allegation had not been confirmed by the EFCC.
And as of the time of filing this report, the commission had yet to disclose the reason for the restriction or indicate whether additional state accounts were affected.
