. Election barely 10 days away
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has frozen Osun State Government account domiciled with First Bank.
The anti-graft agency’s action is coming ten days to the governorship election and a few hours after Governor Ademola Adeleke first raised the alarm about such an impending action by the EFCC against the state government and top officials of the state.
It was gathered that the EFCC has placed the account, reportedly used for the payment of workers’ salaries, on “Post No Debit” status.
The governor had earlier in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, 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.
But a reliable source confirmed that the Osun State government account had already been frozen.
“I can confirm that the state government account has been frozen by the EFCC. It is no longer an allegation. 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 yet to issue any official statement on the development.
Nobody has also given any reason for the account restriction.
