The Osun State Government has vowed to institute legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission following the freezing of its bank accounts, describing the move as unlawful and capable of disrupting governance.
The state's Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, disclosed on Wednesday that Governor Ademola Adeleke had authorised him to challenge the anti-graft agency at the Federal High Court over the action.
Jimi-Bada said the government received information that the EFCC had issued a "Post No Debit" directive to First Bank, where the state's accounts are domiciled, effectively restricting transactions.
He argued that while the commission has the authority to investigate financial records, it lacks the legal power to freeze a state's accounts without first obtaining a court order.
According to him, the restriction could significantly affect government operations, but the administration would pursue every legal avenue to ensure the agency acts within the provisions of the law.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, alleged that police officers visited the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested some members of the bank's staff. He maintained that state funds were not being used to finance Governor Adeleke's re-election campaign and urged the EFCC to consider the consequences of its action on residents.
Earlier, Governor Adeleke had alleged that the anti-graft agency was planning to freeze all accounts belonging to the Osun State Government as well as those of senior government officials. In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor described the alleged plan as unlawful.
Adeleke further claimed that the move was aimed at crippling government activities ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
He insisted there was no legal justification for freezing the state's accounts and maintained that the EFCC lacked the constitutional authority to take such action without due judicial approval.
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