The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has lifted the restriction placed on the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive.
The accounts, held by First Bank of Nigeria and Zenith Bank, are now operational after the EFCC removed the Post No Debit order imposed earlier this month.
The anti-graft agency had restricted transactions on the accounts on August 5 as part of an investigation into the alleged misuse of about N11bn in public funds. The funds reportedly involved ecology and intervention allocations as well as money received from the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
The EFCC’s action had generated controversy, with critics accusing the commission of attempting to undermine Governor Ademola Adeleke, particularly ahead of the recently concluded governorship election.
President Tinubu subsequently criticised the freezing of the accounts and instructed the EFCC to restore access to the state government’s funds.
A Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, confirmed that the restriction had been removed, saying the EFCC had complied with the President’s directive.
According to him, the presidential order was implemented immediately and the commission could not disregard it.
An aide to Governor Adeleke also confirmed that the accounts had been restored, explaining that the development prompted the governor to direct the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, to withdraw the legal action filed against the EFCC.
The Osun State Government and the EFCC had yet to issue formal statements on the development as of Friday.
Efforts to obtain comments from EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale and Osun Commissioner for Finance Sola Ogungbile were unsuccessful, while Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said he would consult relevant officials before responding.
The lifting of the restriction means the state government can once again conduct transactions through the affected accounts as the EFCC investigation continues.
