Osun State plunged into crisis as EFCC freezes government accounts
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State disclosed that the EFCC has frozen the state government's account without a court order, calling it a threat to democracy. He demanded an explanation from the EFCC Chairman, describing the action as the height of intimidation. The EFCC reportedly cited sections of its Establishment Act and the Money Laundering Act for the action.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State publicly announced on Wednesday that the Osun State Government's account has been frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Speaking to journalists at the Government House, Governor Adeleke detailed how his administration received a letter from First Bank, which contained an instruction from the EFCC to freeze the state's account.
The governor expressed strong disapproval of the action, highlighting that it was taken without any preceding court order. He emphasized that such an action is contrary to the principles of democracy, where the rule of law should always be upheld. Governor Adeleke stated, "This morning, we received a letter from our banker, forwarding a letter from the EFCC instructing the bank to freeze the Osun State Government account." He reiterated that this action, devoid of a court order, cannot be accepted, as it represents a situation where federal agencies are "trampling on the constitutional rights of subnational governments."
Calling the move a "threat to our democracy," Governor Adeleke warned against remaining silent, asserting that allowing such "illegality" could lead to the full erosion of democracy. He directly challenged the EFCC Chairman to provide a public explanation to the people of Osun State and Nigerians at large, justifying the freezing of the account and offering supporting proof for any reasons presented.
Adeleke further characterized the request to freeze the Osun account as the culmination of intimidation faced by the Osun government in recent months. A letter from the EFCC to First Bank, dated August 5, 2026, and reportedly obtained by LEADERSHIP, indicated that the request was made in accordance with Section 36(1) and (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004, and Section 24 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.