,By SCM Correspondent l Wednesday, August 05, 2026
OSOGBO — With barely 10 days to the August 15 Osun State governorship election, Governor Ademola Adeleke has raised an alarm over reported plans by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to freeze all official bank accounts belonging to the state government.
The governor also alleged that the anti-graft agency is targeting the personal accounts of key state government functionaries in what he described as a calculated attempt to paralyze administrative operations and destabilize the state ahead of the crucial poll.
In a statement issued in Osogbo by the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the state government warned that freezing government accounts without legal justification represents “the height of lawlessness” and a direct assault on sub-national autonomy.
According to the state government, the anti-graft body lacks the constitutional authority to arbitrarily freeze state treasury accounts, urging security and anti-corruption agencies not to allow themselves to be used as tools for political arm-twisting.
”The report of an impending freeze on Osun State government accounts, as well as accounts belonging to top government functionaries, is alarming,” the statement read.
“There is no legal basis or justification for any push to freeze state government accounts. The EFCC has no legal powers to freeze the account of a state government. Any attempt to execute such an illegality is meant to cripple government activities and create artificial panic ahead of the August 15 election.”
The state government called on President Bola Tinubu and federal authorities to intervene, cautioning that federal law enforcement agencies must remain non-partisan and adhere strictly to the rule of law during electioneering cycles.
The political atmosphere in Osun State has escalated sharply as candidates finalize their campaigns ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Governor Adeleke, who secured the governorship ticket under Accord following a party transition, is seeking re-election based on his administration’s infrastructure projects, civil service welfare reforms, and public service deliverables over the past three years.
The accusation against the EFCC comes amid heightened tensions and series of allegations between the ruling state government, federal security institutions, and opposition parties in the state. In recent days, the Osun State
Government has also raised concerns regarding security maneuvers and political intimidation, urging electoral observers and security heads to guarantee a peaceful, free, and credible electoral process.
Legal experts have repeatedly noted that under Nigeria’s federal system, statutory allocations and state government operational accounts are protected by constitutional frameworks, and attempts by federal anti-graft agencies to freeze state accounts often trigger jurisdictional and constitutional challenges in court.
As at the time of filing this report, the EFCC had yet to issue an official response regarding the state government’s claims.
