File photo: Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Wednesday challenged the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, to explain why he directed that the account of Osun State Government be frozen.

Adeleke, who spoke to journalists at the Osun State Government House, described the move as an illegality that is turning the country’s democracy into a huge joke.

The governor, who said EFCC’s action was taken without any court order, declared that the action of the anti-graft agency will not stand.

“All these intimidation and attacks were carried out on the order of Gboyega Oyetola over an election his candidate cannot win

“As if all these were not enough, this morning, we received a letter from our banker, forwarding a letter from the EFCC, instructing the bank to freeze the Osun State Government Account.

“This action was taken without any court order. We are supposed to be in a democracy, where the Rule of Law must always prevail.
We will therefore not accept a situation where federal agencies trample on the constitutional rights of subnational governments.

“This is a threat to our democracy. If we all keep quiet and allow this illegality, very soon, whatever is left of our democracy will be fully eroded. All I ask is for the EFCC chairman to explain to the good people of Osun State and to Nigerians in general why he froze Osun State Government Account, and show proof to support whatever reason he presents.

“This and all other illegalities being visited on Osun State are turning our democracy into a huge joke. I have instructed my Attorney General to challenge this illegality at the Federal High Court, Osogbo,” the governor said.

Responding to questions from journalists on whether the anti-graft agency had, before freezing state accounts, invited officials of the state government for questioning, Adeleke who said many government officials have been invited by the EFCC and cleared before the commission eventually froze the government’s accounts.

The PUNCH earlier reports that the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada (SAN) on Wednesday said he has the mandate of the governor to sue the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after the anti- graft agency froze government accounts.

Jimi-Bada said a ‘Post no debit’ letter from the EFCC was forwarded to the management of the First Bank where Osun government accounts were domiciled on Wednesday.

The commissioner, who expressed readiness to proceed to court, said the move by the anti-graft agency may hamper the government’s business, noted that Governor Adeleke was not using state funds to run its campaign for reelection.

“I have the mandate of the governor to proceed to the Federal High Court to challenge this move. EFCC can investigate the accounts, but it can’t freeze the accounts without an order of court.

“This step will affect government running, but we will challenge the move and ensure that the agency acts within the ambit of the law,” Jimi-Bada said.

Corroborating the Attorney General, Osun State Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, alleged that police operatives had stormed the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested staff members of the bank.

He also said Adeleke was not using state funds for his campaigns and urged the anti-graft agency to consider the implications that the move will have on the general well-being of the residents.

Earlier, Adeleke raised the alarm that EFCC was planning to freeze all Osun State government accounts.

In a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor said the EFCC was also reportedly planning to freeze accounts of all top government functionaries.

The governor, who said such a plan, if true, amounts to the height of lawlessness, said “The plot to freeze the state government accounts is meant to paralyze government activities ahead of the August 15th governorship election.”

The governor affirmed that there is no legal basis or justification for any push to freeze the state government accounts, declaring that the anti-graft agency has no legal powers to freeze the account of a state government.