Governor, Ademola Adeleke, of Osun State has alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is scheming to freeze the state government’s accounts ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Adeleke made the allegation in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi.
According to the statement, the governor said he had received “credible reports” that the EFCC had concluded plans to freeze all Osun State Government accounts.
Adeleke also alleged that the anti-graft agency was planning to freeze the accounts of top government functionaries.
The statement read, “Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has raised an alarm over credible reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has concluded plans to freeze all Osun State government accounts.
“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 maintained that there was no legal basis for such an action.
“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,” the statement added.
The allegation surfaces against the backdrop of a tightly contested governorship race in which Adeleke of the Accord Party is seeking re-election against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Oyebamiji.
The governor has repeatedly alleged political pressure and interference aimed at undermining his administration in the lead-up to the election.
The EFCC had yet to respond to the allegation as of the time of filing this report. Efforts are ongoing to get the agency’s reaction
