.It’s threat to democracy — Gov Adeleke
.EFCC says it is protecting investigated funds
. As Police deploy 15,000 officers, warn politicians against violating electoral laws
Osun State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada on Wednesday, said he has the mandate of the governor to sue the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after the anti- graft agency froze government accounts.
Jimi-Bada said a ‘Post no debit’ letter from the EFCC was forwarded to the management of the First Bank where Osun government accounts were domiciled on Wednesday.
The commissioner, who expressed readiness to proceed to court, said the move by the anti-graft agency may hamper government’s business, noted that Governor Ademola Adeleke was not using state funds to run its campaign for reelection.
“I have the mandate of the governor to proceed to the Federal High Court to challenge this move. EFCC can investigate the accounts but it can’t freeze the accounts without order of court.
“This step will affect government running but we will challenge the move and ensure that the agency acts within the ambit of the law,” Jimi-Bada said.
Corroborating the Attorney General, Osun State Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, alleged that police operatives had stormed the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested staff members of the bank.
He also said Adeleke was not using state funds for his campaigns and urged the anti graft agency to consider the implications that the move will have on the general well-being of the residents.
In his reaction, the State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has described the freezing of the State Government account by the EFCC as a threat to democracy and the rule of law.
Adeleke, who made the discourse while addressing newsmen in Osogbo on Wednesday, said the state government received a letter from its banker forwarding an EFCC instruction to freeze the Osun State Government account.
The governor alleged that the action was being carried out without a court order, describing it as another attempt to frustrate the administration and paralyse governance in the state.
He said, “This is a threat to our democracy. If we all keep quiet and allow this illegality, very soon, whatever is left of our democracy will be fully eroded.
“All I ask is for the efcc chairman to explain to the good people of Osun State and to Nigerians in general, why he froze Osun State Government Account, and show proof to support whatever reason, he presents.
“This and all other illegalities being visited on Osun state is turning our democracy into a huge joke. I have instructed my Attorney General to challenge this illegality at the Federal High Court Osogbo.”
Meanwhile, a letter sighted by our correspondent and dated August 5th, 2026 addressed to the Managing Director of First Bank, Abuja, requested that the said account be placed on Post-No-Debit.
The letter titled CR: 3000/EFCC/ABJ/HQ/PFS/TA/OSUN/VOL.17/666 stated that, was signed by a Director of Investigation, Adenike Babalola.
The letter partly reads, “In furtherance to the above, you are kindly requested to place a Post-No-Debli on the account.
“This request is made pursuant to Section 38 (1) & (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and Sectlon 24 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
In its reaction, the EFCC has defended its decision to freeze the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, insisting that the action was taken solely to safeguard public funds under investigation and bears no connection to the state’s forthcoming governorship election.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency disclosed that it has been investigating the Osun State Government since March 2026 over the alleged fraudulent management of about ₦11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
According to the EFCC, the ongoing investigation has already involved interviews with several state officials, including the Accountant-General of Osun State.
The Commission explained that the investigation alone would not have necessitated the freezing of the government’s accounts. However, it said investigators observed what they described as “precipitate and unwarranted” movements of funds beginning on August 2, 2026.
It alleged that substantial sums were transferred from the state’s accounts into several corporate entities considered suspicious, prompting the Commission to invoke a Post No Debit (PND) order to halt further transactions.
“The Commission noticed huge transfers of funds into different corporate entities and had to swiftly halt the trend by freezing the accounts from which such heavy funds are being moved,” the statement said.
The EFCC maintained that the action falls within its preventive mandate of protecting public funds and ensuring accountability in the management of government resources.
“The Commission cannot watch idly while a state government’s account is being pillaged,” it stated, stressing that allowing the alleged transactions to continue because of the impending governorship election would amount to neglecting its statutory responsibilities.
While acknowledging the proximity of the Osun governorship poll, the anti-corruption agency insisted that its intervention was driven entirely by the need to preserve the integrity of public funds and not by political considerations.
The Commission further revealed that Osun is not the only state under scrutiny, noting that it is monitoring the finances of several other state governments as part of broader efforts to promote accountability and probity in the management of public resources.
Reaffirming its neutrality, the EFCC said it remains non-partisan and non-sectarian in the discharge of its duties, adding that its actions are guided solely by the public interest.
The Commission urged Nigerians to disregard what it described as false narratives and deliberate attempts to discredit its operations, reiterating that the freezing of the Osun State Government’s accounts was intended to prevent the alleged looting of public funds while investigations continue.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has deployed about 15,000 personnel to Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, warning that any individual or group that attempts to disrupt the electoral process will be arrested and dealt with in accordance with the law.
The Commissioner of Police for the election in Osun State, Samuel Etaifo Erale, disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing officers in Osogbo.
Erale said the deployment was part of the mandate given to him by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to create a level playing field for all political parties and ensure that residents are able to exercise their franchise without fear, intimidation or harassment.
According to him, the deployment comprises Commissioners of Police, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, the Police Mobile Force and other specialised units, with senior officers, including a Deputy Inspector-General of Police and an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, expected to join the security operation.
He said the police had originally planned to deploy personnel three to four days before the election, but the prevailing political tension in the state prompted the Inspector-General of Police to direct an earlier deployment.
Erale said the early arrival of the personnel was aimed at restoring confidence among residents, securing critical locations and creating a safe environment for voters, political actors, INEC officials and other stakeholders.
“My mandate is to create a level playing field and make sure everyone exercises their franchise. We want to give all political parties equal opportunity and ensure that the people of Osun State can come out and vote without fear,” he said.
He explained that the police had also cleared the road for the safe movement and arrival of other security agencies, as well as officials and materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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