The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued an instruction freezing a bank account belonging to the Osun State government and domiciled with First Bank Plc, Osogbo.
The affected account is reportedly used for the payment of workers’ salaries.
The development is coming a few days before the governorship elections slated for August 13 in the state, and just a few hours after the state governor, Ademola Adeleke had raised an alarm alleging that the EFCC was planning to freeze the state’s accounts and those of top government officials.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor 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.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC was yet to issue an official statement on the development.
(Ripples)