By Emmanuel Thomas l Thursday, August 05,2026
OSOGBO — The Osun State Government has fiercely debunked claims by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that it froze the state’s bank accounts over an alleged N11 billion fraud, describing the anti-graft agency’s assertion as a “failed attempt to cover up an illegal action through unfounded allegations.”
The Allegation: EFCC claimed it froze Osun State’s accounts following an investigation into N11 billion in allegedly looted ecological and state funds.
The Response: Information Commissioner Oluomo Kolapo Alimi denied the claims, stating that state funds are fully deployed toward mega projects, sectoral development, and civil servant welfare.
Political Angle: The Osun State Government alleged the EFCC is carrying out a “hatchet job” directed by former Governor Gboyega Oyetola to block cost-of-living palliative payments to workers.
Palliative Status: The state confirmed that despite the EFCC’s actions, all promised palliatives have been successfully paid to Osun workers.
In a statement released on Thursday in Osogbo, the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, asserted that the anti-graft agency acted on the dictates of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola in an attempt to halt the disbursement of economic relief funds to civil servants.
”The real reason the commission froze the state account on the order of Gboyega Oyetola was to stop the payment of palliatives which the state government promised the workers some months ago,” Alimi stated. “This account freezing marks the climax of Oyetola’s historic anti-workers’ obsession.”
The government confirmed that despite the freeze, it successfully disbursed the wage awards and cost-of-living subsidies to all state workers following negotiations aimed at cushioning current economic challenges.
EFCC Accused of Political Witch-Hunt
Refuting the claim of missing funds, the state government maintained that Osun operates a lean, transparent budget focused heavily on infrastructure and social welfare.
Alimi noted that the EFCC has been conducting an ongoing investigation since March 2026 without producing any indicting evidence against top administration officials.
”All material facts point to the fact that the commission is pursuing a hatchet job for the Osun APC by illegally freezing the state account and falsely accusing the government of looting ecological and other state funds.
“We don’t loot public funds in Osun state; we deliver on public goods and services,” the statement added.
The state challenged the legality of the EFCC’s procedure, pointing out that Osun has consistently earned national recognition and awards for budget auditing and fiscal transparency.
The government argued that if the commission had credible evidence of wrongdoing, established legal procedures should have been followed rather than resorting to arbitrary account freezing.
The clash between the Osun State Government and the EFCC marks the latest escalation in the ongoing political friction between the incumbent administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), led in the state by former Governor Gboyega Oyetola (now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy).
Palliative Commitments: Amid nationwide subsidy removal and economic adjustments, the Adeleke administration rolled out monthly palliative allowances for civil servants and pensioners.
Ecological Funds Scrutiny: The EFCC’s recent focus on ecological fund management in several states led to heightened scrutiny of Osun’s treasury, culminating in the recent account restriction order.
Legal and Administrative Precedents: Under Nigerian law, the freezing of a state government’s primary operational accounts remains a contentious legal topic, as state governments frequently argue that it disrupts essential public services and constitutional governance.
The Osun State Government concluded by urging the public to dismiss the EFCC’s allegations as an “afterthought” designed to damage the administration’s reputation in the court of public opinion.
