The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has reportedly placed one of the Osun State Government’s bank accounts under restriction less than two weeks before the state’s governorship election.
Documents obtained on Wednesday indicated that the account, domiciled with First Bank and reportedly used for the payment of workers’ salaries, had been placed on a “Post No Debit” status by the anti graft agency.
The development followed claims by Governor Ademola Adeleke that the commission was planning to freeze the state’s accounts as well as those of some senior government officials ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
In a statement issued through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor described the reported action as a deliberate attempt to disrupt government operations in the run up to the poll.
Adeleke argued that there was no legal justification for freezing the accounts of the state government, insisting that the EFCC lacked the statutory authority to impose such restrictions.
A source within the government, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed that the account had already been restricted.
The source said the governor would address journalists to provide further details on the situation, adding that the account was no longer accessible for transactions.
As of the time this report was filed, the EFCC had yet to issue an official statement on the development, while the reason for the restriction remained unclear.