By Lagos Times Correspondent
OSOGBO, NIGERIA — The Osun State Government led by Governor Ademola Adeleke has announced plans to initiate emergency legal proceedings against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following reports that the anti-graft agency moves to freeze state government bank accounts and those of senior cabinet officials.
In a official statement released on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the state executive declared that any attempt to block Osun State’s financial assets constitutes an unconstitutional act of lawlessness designed to paralyze civil administration and public operations.
Key Operational Highlights
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Legal Redress Initiated: The state ministry of justice is preparing urgent court filings to restrain financial institutions and federal anti-graft bodies from tampering with public accounts.
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Executive Protests: Governor Adeleke maintained that the EFCC lacks statutory powers under the Nigerian Constitution to freeze the state treasury or impair sub-national governance.
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Timing Controversy: State officials linked the sudden administrative and investigative pressure directly to political maneuvers surrounding the upcoming August 15 Osun State Governorship Election.
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Impact on State Operations: The government warned that freezing sub-national accounts threatens local civil service payrolls, contractor disbursements, and emergency service operations across the state.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ OSUN STATE vs EFCC ACCOUNT DISPUTE MATRIX │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • State Executive : Governor Ademola Adeleke (Osun State) │
│ │
│ • Targeted Agency : Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) │
│ │
│ • Lead Spokesman : Oluomo Kolapo Alimi (Commissioner for Info) │
│ │
│ • Core Dispute : Moves to freeze state treasury & cabinet accounts │
│ ahead of the August 15 governorship election. │
│ │
│ • Legal Stance : Motion for injunction to preserve sub-national │
│ financial autonomy and state banking operations. │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
(Sources: Osun State Government Official Statement)
“No Legal Powers to Freeze State Accounts”
Reaffirming the state’s resolve to challenge the move through the judiciary, Information Commissioner Oluomo Kolapo Alimi stated:
“Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has raised an alarm over credible reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has concluded plans to freeze all Osun State government accounts, alongside accounts of top government functionaries… Such a plan, if true, amounts to the height of lawlessness… There is no legal basis or justification for any push to freeze the state government accounts, as the anti-graft agency has no legal powers to freeze the account of a state government.” — Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment
