Adeleke Heads To Court Over EFCC Freeze On Osun Salary Account
Governor Ademola Adeleke on Wednesday vowed to challenge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) decision to freeze the Osun State salary account domiciled with First Bank, describing the action as unconstitutional and a violation of due process, even as the anti-graft agency insisted it acted to prevent the alleged diversion of public funds.
This comes as a reliable source familiar with the investigation alleged that more than N18 billion had been withdrawn from the said account which is now under scrutiny 14 times in less than two months.
The source who pleaded to remain anonymous, also dismissed allegations that the Commission was acting selectively ahead of the Osun election, alleging that investigators had observed unusual transactions in the government’s salary accounts.
According to the official, accounts that ordinarily recorded salary payments once a month had recently witnessed multiple large transfers within a short period, prompting closer scrutiny by the Commission. He maintained that the EFCC could not ignore suspicious financial movements simply because of the prevailing political climate.
The development however, drew sharp criticism from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which described the freezing of the state’s bank account as “political terrorism” and alleged it was part of a win-at-all-cost agenda of the ruling party that threatens Nigeria’s democracy, while legal and civil rights groups faulted the EFCC’s action.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday announced the deployment of 15,000 personnel across Osun State and warned political actors and their supporters against violating electoral laws ahead of next Saturday’s governorship election.
Governor Adeleke accused the EFCC of unlawfully directing the freezing of the state government’s bank accounts without obtaining a court order, describing the action as a violation of the rule of law and a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Addressing a press conference in Osogbo, Adeleke said the state government received a letter from its banker informing it of an EFCC directive ordering the immediate freezing of the accounts.
The governor said the action came amid what he described as sustained intimidation of his administration and members of the Accord political movement, alleging that the state had experienced the paralysis of the local government system, arrests of political leaders and harassment of supporters.
According to him, the freezing of the state’s accounts was carried out without any court order, a development he said was unconstitutional and unacceptable in a democratic setting.
Adeleke called on the Chairman of the EFCC to publicly explain the reasons for the action and provide evidence to justify the directive freezing the state’s accounts.
He warned that allowing federal agencies to take such actions against subnational governments without due process could undermine constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
The governor disclosed that he had directed the Osun State Attorney General to challenge the EFCC’s action at the Federal High Court in Osogbo.
Despite the development, Adeleke said his administration would continue its activities, insisting that it would not be distracted by what he described as acts of intimidation.
Meanwhile, the EFCC has explained that it issued the “Post-no-Debit” (PND) order on the account of the Osun State Government domiciled with the First Bank of Nigeria to prevent the looting of about N11 billion belonging to the state.
