OSOGBO, Nigeria — Officials in Nigeria’s Osun State announced on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, that the state government will file a lawsuit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after the anti-graft agency froze the government’s bank accounts.
Golden Info reports that Osun State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, confirmed the management of First Bank received a ‘Post no debit’ letter from the EFCC restricting access to state funds.
Jimi-Bada stated he received authorization from Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to initiate legal proceedings at the Federal High Court to challenge the restriction. “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 order of court,” Jimi-Bada said.
Jimi-Bada added that the freeze would impede state operations but affirmed the government would ensure the agency operates legally. “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.
Nigeria’s Osun State Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, corroborated the account freeze and stated that police operatives entered the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested bank staff members. Ogungbile maintained that Adeleke is not using state funds to finance his reelection campaign and asked the agency to consider the impact on residents.
In a statement issued by Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, Adeleke alleged the EFCC also intends to freeze the personal accounts of top government functionaries. “The plot to freeze the state government accounts is meant to paralyze government activities ahead of the August 15th governorship election,” Adeleke said.