By Osaretin OsadebamwenÂ
The Osun State Government has firmly dismissed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) allegation of an ₦11 billion fraud, denouncing the freezing of its state bank account as unlawful and steeped in political vendetta.
In a Thursday statement signed by Commissioner for Information Kolapo Alimi, the state contended that the account restriction had no basis in financial impropriety.
Instead, the government alleged the move was orchestrated to sabotage the disbursement of palliatives to civil servants ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The administration further claimed the anti-graft agency acted on the directives of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola to cripple its welfare programs.
“The real reason the commission froze the state account on the order of Gboyega Oyetola was to stop the payment of palliatives which the state government promised the workers some months ago,” the statement read.
In its official response, the EFCC clarified that it has been investigating the state government since March 2026 regarding the alleged fraudulent handling of Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds, and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations totaling approximately N11 billion.
The commission stated that investigators observed “huge transfers” from government coffers into suspicious corporate accounts starting August 2, which necessitated the swift freeze to prevent further depletion of public resources.
The EFCC vigorously denied any connection to the upcoming election, insisting the action fell squarely within its statutory mandate to safeguard national assets.
The state’s account, domiciled with First Bank, was frozen as a result, prompting a fierce legal pushback. Mr. Alimi added that senior officials have been subjected to repeated interrogations since March, yet the EFCC has produced no substantive evidence of wrongdoing. He argued that Osun has cultivated a reputation for prudent budgeting and transparent financial management, asserting, “There is no fund to loot in Osun State as the little resources we have are expended on mega projects, workers’ welfare and sectoral development.”
The government further questioned the legality of the EFCC’s action, emphasizing that a state’s bank account cannot be lawfully frozen without judicial orders or filed criminal charges.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Oluwole Jimi-Bada reinforced this stance, maintaining that the EFCC lacks the constitutional authority to impose such restrictions on a state government without adherence to due legal process.
He described the commission’s public allegations as an afterthought, designed merely to justify a controversial action that has drawn widespread public criticism.
