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Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of unlawfully directing the freezing of the state government's bank account, describing the action as an attack on democracy and the rule of law.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Adeleke said the state government received a letter from its banker notifying it of an EFCC directive to freeze the account without obtaining a court order.
The governor described the development as the latest in a series of actions allegedly targeted at his administration, claiming that Osun State had faced sustained political intimidation, including the paralysis of the local government system, harassment of political supporters and arrests of members of the Accord Party.
According to him, several Accord members had been killed, while about 60 others were arrested and taken to Abuja, where they were allegedly detained without formal charges.
Adeleke alleged that the actions were politically motivated and linked them to former Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola, whom he accused of orchestrating intimidation over the forthcoming governorship election. He, however, did not provide evidence to support the allegation.
The governor maintained that federal agencies should not be allowed to trample on the constitutional rights of state governments, warning that such actions pose a threat to Nigeria's democratic system if left unchecked.
He called on the EFCC Chairman to publicly explain the reasons for freezing the Osun State Government account and provide evidence to justify the decision.
Adeleke disclosed that he had directed the state's Attorney-General to challenge the action before the Federal High Court in Osogbo, insisting that the government would seek legal redress.
Despite the development, the governor said his administration and political campaign would continue uninterrupted, expressing confidence that the matter would be resolved through due process.
