EFCC freezes Osun allocation account
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen the Osun State Government's statutory allocation account.
- The freeze is part of an ongoing investigation, with a post-no-debit restriction placed on the account.
- The move comes amid allegations by Governor Ademola Adeleke that the EFCC is attempting to cripple his administration before an upcoming election.
Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has placed a post-no-debit restriction on the Osun State Government's statutory allocation account. This action, detailed in a letter dated August 5, 2026, is part of an ongoing investigation by the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC's directive, addressed to the Managing Director of First Bank, cites relevant sections of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act. This follows earlier correspondence from April 15, 2026, indicating the investigation has been active for some time.
Refer to our letter CR:3000/EFCC/ABJ/HQ/PFS/TA/OSUN/VOL.17/165 dated 15th April, 2026 on the above subject. โIn furtherance to the above, you are kindly requested to place a Post-No-Debit on the account. This request is made pursuant to Section 38 (1) & (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and Section 24 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. โThank you for your usual cooperation, please,โ
Sources within the EFCC stated the probe has been ongoing for over a year, with several senior government officials having previously honored invitations and provided written statements. This contradicts claims that the action is politically motivated ahead of an election.
However, Governor Ademola Adeleke has alleged that the EFCC's move is an attempt to cripple his administration's activities before the state's governorship election. His administration, through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, described the reported account freeze as lacking legal authority and politically motivated.
We have been investigating the government for over a year. In fact, some top officials of the government had been invited; they came and wrote statements. So it is not because of the forthcoming election.
Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.