Governor Ademola Adeleke has confirmed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) froze the Osun State Government’s account, instructing his Attorney General to challenge what he described as the illegality at the Federal High Court, Osogbo.
This comes 10 days before the governorship election in the state, scheduled for August 15, 2026.
Governor Adeleke confirmed the development at a press conference on Wednesday.
He noted that Osun residents and the state government had been facing many challenges in recent months.
“You know of the deliberate paralysis of the local government system, the open gun attacks on Osun people and the daily harassment and arrests of Accord members.
“You are aware of constant police raids and arrest of Accord leaders for no reason and without any warrant of arrest. Several Accord members have been killed, and 60 Accord members have been arrested, taken to Abuja and detained without any charges,” he said.
The governor alleged that the intimidation and attacks were carried out on the orders of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, over what he described as an election his candidate would not win.
Confirming the freezing of the state government’s account, he said: “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 Osun State Government’s account. This action was taken without any court order.”
While noting that Nigeria is a democratic society where the rule of law must always prevail, Adeleke stated that his government would 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,” he remarked.
He urged the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to explain to the people of Osun State and Nigerians in general why the Commission froze the Osun State Government’s account and to provide evidence to support the reason for the action.
The governor decried the incident and other alleged illegalities in Osun State, saying they had turned Nigeria’s democracy into a “huge joke.”
“I have instructed my Attorney General to challenge this illegality at the Federal High Court, Osogbo,” he added.
