EFCC has frozen Osun Government Bank Account days before governorship election.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly placed a restriction on an Osun State Government account domiciled with First Bank, just 10 days before the state’s governorship election scheduled for August 15.
According to documents obtained by Vanguard, the account, which is reportedly used for the payment of workers’ salaries, has been placed on a “Post No Debit” restriction, preventing withdrawals or transactions.
The reported development comes shortly after Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke alleged that the anti-graft agency was planning to freeze state government accounts, as well as those belonging to top government officials, ahead of the election.
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Reacting to the reported action, the Osun State Government, through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, described the move as an attempt to disrupt the administration’s activities in the days leading up to the poll.
Governor Adeleke maintained that there was no legal basis for the alleged freezing of the state’s accounts, arguing that the EFCC does not have the statutory authority to impose such restrictions on a state government’s bank accounts.
A source within the state administration, who requested anonymity, claimed the restriction had already taken effect.
“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.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not issued an official statement on the reported account restriction, and the reason for the action remains unclear.
