Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is planning to freeze the bank accounts of the state government ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
This allegation was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Osogbo by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, on behalf of the governor.
According to the statement, “the state government received credible reports that the anti-graft agency had concluded plans to freeze all Osun State Government accounts.”
The governor also alleged that the EFCC was planning to freeze the accounts of top government functionaries, a move that would disrupt government operations in the days leading to the governorship election.
Adeleke described the alleged plan as “the height of lawlessness. Any attempt to freeze the state’s accounts would be aimed at paralysing government activities before residents go to the polls on August 15.
“There is no legal basis or justification for any push to freeze the state government accounts. The anti-graft agency has no legal powers to freeze the account of a state government.”
He maintained that the reported move, if carried out, would amount to an abuse of power and could undermine the smooth running of government business during a critical period in the state.
Governor Adeleke also described it as an emerging threat to the administration’s ability to function ahead of the election.