Osun: EFCC Reveals Ability to Temporarily Block Accounts for Up to Three Days Without Judicial Approval

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has justified its decision to restrict an Osun State Government account, citing specific legal provisions that grant it the authority to do so. The commission's action is based on suspicious activities detected on the account over the past week, according to its Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren.

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Uwujaren explained that the commission did not require a prior court order to restrict the account, contrary to claims made by the state government and the Nigerian Bar Association, and that the move was aimed at preserving the account. The restriction was imposed after the commission noticed heavy transfers of funds from the account to various corporate entities within a week.

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The commission's action is limited to a single account and should not be misconstrued as a blanket freeze on the state's finances, Uwujaren clarified, emphasizing that it is a targeted restriction on one specific account of the Osun State Government. The state government still has access to other accounts and can continue to perform its duties without hindrance.

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Uwujaren argued that the commission had a responsibility to act, as inaction would have led to public criticism, particularly if funds were looted from the account, and that the commission's power to place a temporary restriction on an account is rooted in statute. The commission's authority to restrict the account is based on specific provisions of the law, including Section 34 of the EFCC Act and Section 7, Subsection 6 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2022.

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The restriction order can last for up to 72 hours before the commission would need to obtain a court order, Uwujaren stated, adding that the commission's decision to restrict the account was not influenced by the ongoing election process. The commission had been investigating the Osun State Government since March 2026 over alleged fraudulent handling of about N11bn in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds, and Federation Account Allocation Committee allocations.

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Uwujaren's defense of the commission's actions came in response to a demand by Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, for EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede to justify the freeze, which Adeleke described as illegal. The governor's Attorney General, Oluwole Jimi-Bada (SAN), had argued that the EFCC lacked the power to freeze government accounts without a court order and had been directed to challenge the action at the Federal High Court in Osogbo.

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The commission's investigation into the Osun State Government has already led to the questioning of some state officials, including the Accountant General, Uwujaren revealed, highlighting the commission's commitment to addressing suspected financial irregularities. The restriction on the account will be lifted once the commission is satisfied that the suspicious activities have ceased.