The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has frozen a bank account belonging to the Osun State Government, just ten days before the state’s governorship election.
The EFCC says the account, held at First Bank, was placed under restriction after it detected suspicious transfers of funds beginning August 2nd. The commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, says Osun’s government has been under investigation since March over the alleged fraudulent handling of eleven billion naira in ecology funds, intervention funds, and allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee. Some state officials, including the Accountant-General, have already been questioned.
Governor Ademola Adeleke has rejected the move as unconstitutional, saying it was carried out without a court order. He has directed his Attorney-General to challenge the freeze at the Federal High Court in Osogbo.
The governor went further, accusing his predecessor — now federal Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola — of being behind the action, alleging it’s an attempt to sabotage his re-election bid.
The EFCC insists its action has nothing to do with the election, saying it has a legal duty to protect public funds regardless of political timing.
Meanwhile, roughly 15,000 personnel — including conventional officers, specialists, the K9 unit, medical staff, and the Police Mobile Force — have been deployed to the state ahead of the August 15 election, Commissioner of Police Samuel Erale Etaifo, said Wednesday.
Etaifo said his early redeployment was ordered by the Inspector-General of Police due to mounting political tension and violent incidents, including attacks reported in parts of the state.
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