EFCC plotting to freeze Osun govt accounts ahead of election – Adeleke

By Shina Abubakar, Osogbo The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen an Osun State Government account domiciled with First Bank, ten days to governorship election, according to documents seen by Vanguard. The account, reportedly used for the payment of workers’ salaries, was placed on “Post No Debit” status by the anti-graft agency. The development came hours after Governor Ademola Adeleke alleged that the EFCC was planning to freeze the state’s accounts and those of top government officials.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor described the reported move as an attempt to cripple government activities ahead of the August 15 governorship election. Adeleke maintained that there was no legal basis for freezing the accounts of the state government, arguing that the EFCC lacked the statutory powers to take such action. A source close to the governor, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly, confirmed to Vanguard that the account had already been frozen.

“I can confirm that the state government account has been frozen by the EFCC. 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 development.

The reason for the account restriction was also not immediately known. The post Breaking: EFCC freezes Osun government account 10 days to election appeared first on Vanguard News. Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of plotting to freeze the bank accounts of the state government ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, made this known in a statement on Wednesday. According to Alimi, the governor raised the alarm on Tuesday during a meeting at the Government House in Osogbo, claiming that the anti-graft agency was also planning to extend the action to the accounts of senior government officials. The statement said Adeleke described the alleged move as “the height of lawlessness” and argued that “the plot to freeze the state government accounts is meant to paralyse government activities ahead of the governorship election”.

“The governor affirmed that there is no legal basis or justification for any move to freeze the state government accounts, declaring that the anti-graft agency has no legal powers to freeze the account of a state government,” the statement added. The EFCC had not responded to the allegation as of the time of filing this report. Adeleke is seeking a second term on the platform of the Accord Party, while the All Progressives Congress is attempting to regain control of the state after spending four years in opposition.