The Osun Sues EFCC dispute has taken a new turn as the Osun State Government begins legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The state government challenged the restriction placed on some of its bank accounts. Officials described the move as unlawful and warned that it could affect government operations.
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, announced the legal action on Wednesday. He said Governor Ademola Adeleke directed him to file a case at the Federal High Court.
The Osun Sues EFCC move followed reports that the EFCC instructed First Bank to place a Post-No-Debit restriction on some state government accounts.
Jimi-Bada explained that the restriction prevents withdrawals and other debit transactions. He acknowledged that the EFCC has the power to investigate financial activities but argued that the agency cannot freeze government accounts without a court order.
“I have the mandate of the governor to proceed to the Federal High Court to challenge this move,” Jimi-Bada said.
“EFCC can investigate the accounts, but it can’t freeze the accounts without an order of court.”
The Attorney General said the restriction could affect the government’s ability to provide services. He added that the state would continue to challenge the action through legal means.
“This step will affect government running, but we will challenge the move and ensure that the agency acts within the ambit of the law,” he added.
The Osun Sues EFCC case comes amid rising political tension ahead of the August 15 governorship election. The state government believes the account restriction could disrupt important activities during the election period.
Meanwhile, Commissioner for Finance Sola Ogungbile raised another concern. He alleged that police officers visited the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested some bank workers.
Ogungbile did not reveal the identities of the workers or explain why they were reportedly arrested. He also rejected claims that government funds were being used to support Governor Adeleke’s re-election campaign.
The finance commissioner insisted that public money was not being diverted for political purposes. He warned that restricting accounts used for government operations could affect workers’ salaries and public programmes.
Before the restriction was reported, Governor Adeleke had accused the EFCC of planning to freeze state government accounts. He described the alleged move as an attempt to disrupt his administration before the election.
The governor maintained that the EFCC must follow due process before taking such action. He insisted that the commission could not restrict government accounts without proper legal approval.
However, the EFCC said the restriction followed an ongoing investigation. The commission stated that the action was based on provisions of the EFCC Establishment Act and the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act.
The Osun Sues EFCC legal battle is expected to attract further attention as both sides defend their positions. The outcome of the court process could determine the next step in the dispute over the restricted accounts.
