• State heads to court over EFCC account restrictions
• EFCC cites alleged N11b fraud, denies election motive
• APC petitions EFCC, ICPC over alleged vote-buying scheme
• ADC alleges use of federal institutions to weaken opposition
• Adeleke campaign labels account freeze ‘economic coup’
• Davido, Bode George, others warn against escalating tensions
• Police deploy 15,000 personnel ahead of August 15 poll
• Tella urges caution as stakeholders weigh implications

Less than nine days before the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, the political atmosphere took another dramatic turn yesterday as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) froze bank accounts operated by the state government, fuelling fresh bickering and tension over an election already overshadowed by legal battles, security concerns and allegations of political intimidation.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Government has approached the Federal High Court to challenge the EFCC’s decision to place restrictions on its bank accounts.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, disclosed yesterday that Governor Ademola Adeleke had authorised legal action against the anti-graft agency over the development.

Jimi-Bada said the government was informed that the EFCC directed First Bank Plc to place a “Post No Debit” restriction on several state government accounts domiciled with the bank, thereby preventing transactions.

“The governor has instructed me to challenge the action before the Federal High Court. The EFCC is free to investigate the accounts, but it cannot impose restrictions on them without judicial authorisation,” he said.

The attorney general warned that the restriction could disrupt government operations by affecting routine financial obligations and the delivery of essential public services.

“We consider the action a violation of due process. It has serious implications for government activities, and we will seek judicial intervention to ensure the law is followed,” he added.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, alleged that police officers stormed the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo during the incident and arrested some members of staff.

Ogungbile also dismissed allegations that public funds were being channelled into Governor Adeleke’s re-election campaign, insisting that government resources were being used strictly for official purposes.

He urged the EFCC to review the restriction, arguing that it would ultimately affect governance and the welfare of residents who depend on government-funded services.

According to a letter sighted by The Guardian, dated August 5, 2026, with reference number CR3000/EFCC/ABJ/PFS/TA/OSUN/VO.17/666 and addressed to the Manager, First Bank Plc, Abuja, the Commission directed the bank to place a “No Post Debit” restriction on one of the state’s accounts.

The Commission stated: “In furtherance of the above, you are kindly requested to place a No-Post-Debit on the account.

“This request is made pursuant to Section 38 (1) and (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

The letter was endorsed by ACE I. Adenike S. Babalola on behalf of the Director of Investigation of the Commission.

EFCC defends freezing of Osun accounts, cites alleged N11b fraud probe
HOWEVER, the EFCC defended its decision, saying the action was taken to prevent the alleged diversion of public funds and was unrelated to the governorship election.

In a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency disclosed that it had been investigating the Osun State Government since March 2026 over the alleged fraudulent handling of Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations amounting to about N11 billion.

The commission said some state officials, including the Accountant General, had been questioned as part of the investigation.

According to the EFCC, the decision to place a Post No Debit order on the accounts followed what it described as a “precipitate and unwarranted” movement of funds from the state’s accounts into several suspicious corporate accounts, starting on August 2.

The commission said it detected large transfers to different corporate entities and moved swiftly to freeze the affected accounts to halt the transactions.

The EFCC maintained that the action was in line with its mandate to safeguard public funds and assets, stressing that it could not ignore what it believed to be an attempt to divert state resources.

While acknowledging the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State, the commission insisted that the poll could not prevent it from carrying out its statutory responsibilities.

It also disclosed that it was monitoring the finances of other states and investigating several state governments as part of efforts to promote accountability and probity.

The commission denied acting on political considerations, describing itself as nonpartisan and committed to protecting the public interest.

The EFCC urged Nigerians to disregard what it described as false narratives and attempts to discredit its activities, insisting that the freezing of the Osun State Government’s accounts was intended to protect public funds from alleged looting.

Osun APC petitions EFCC, ICPC over alleged vote-buying ahead of poll
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has petitioned the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the alleged use of state resources for vote-buying ahead of the governorship election.

The party made the call yesterday in a statement by the Chairman of its Media Committee, Remi Omowaye.

The APC alleged that Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration was using public funds to influence voters ahead of the election.

It also accused the state government of commencing a widespread vote-buying scheme by asking residents to submit their bank account details to receive N20,000 payments.

According to the party, the funds were being paid directly into the accounts of workers and residents as part of efforts to secure an electoral advantage.

The APC urged the EFCC and ICPC to investigate the allegations and take appropriate action.

ADC accuses Tinubu of using state institutions to weaken opposition ahead of Osun poll
REACTING, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) accused President Bola Tinubu of adopting a win-at-all-costs approach to politics, alleging that the Federal Government is deploying state institutions to undermine the opposition ahead of the election.

In a statement yesterday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party condemned the alleged freezing of statutory allocations to local governments in the state, describing the action as an attempt to weaken the Adeleke administration.

The ADC alleged that withholding the funds would affect the payment of workers’ salaries, primary healthcare services, education and other essential public services.

The party argued that President Tinubu’s approach to politics treated electoral contests as warfare, saying such a disposition was incompatible with democratic governance.

“No democracy worthy of the name deliberately sacrifices the welfare of innocent citizens in pursuit of partisan political ends. The salaries of workers, the operation of primary healthcare centres, the education of children, rural infrastructure and other essential public services have all been turned into bargaining chips in President Tinubu’s political contest,” the statement said.

The ADC called for the immediate restoration of statutory allocations to Osun State’s local governments and urged the Federal Government to end what it described as the intimidation of the state.

It also urged that the people of Osun be allowed to choose their leaders freely without political interference.

Adeleke campaign accuses EFCC of ‘economic coup’ over account freeze
SIMILARLY, the Imole Campaign Council (TICC) accused the EFCC of orchestrating what it described as an “economic coup” against the Osun State Government.

In a statement yesterday by the Chairman of its Media and Publicity Committee, Bamidele Salam, the campaign council alleged that the anti-graft agency had exceeded its anti-corruption mandate and was attempting to undermine the state’s democratic process.

The council described the timing of the account freeze as troubling.

It argued that by freezing the accounts, the EFCC had effectively hampered a democratically elected government’s ability to discharge its constitutional responsibilities.

“By implication, the EFCC, as a body set up by law, is frustrating a sub-national government from carrying out its lawful duties of payment of salary and allowances, pensions, fixing infrastructure, addressing security challenges and carrying out other duties which the Nigerian Constitution has entrusted unto the state,” the statement read.

TICC maintained that the timing of the account freeze and the EFCC’s subsequent conduct had raised concerns about political interference in the electoral process.

The council warned against using public institutions to influence voters’ choices, insisting that the people of Osun should be allowed to decide their next governor at the ballot box.
It therefore called on the EFCC to immediately unfreeze the state government’s accounts, arguing that governance should not be paralysed by an electoral contest.

Davido, Bode George, Tella, others react
SPEAKING with The Guardian, veteran journalist Alhaji Liadi Tella urged caution against rushing to conclusions, noting that the EFCC may have acted on intelligence available to it.

“Until the EFCC explains why the account was frozen, it will be premature to condemn the action,” he said.

“There are speculations about the movement of funds ahead of next week’s election. If there are reasonable grounds, the Commission can take preventive action. Nobody, whether in APC or Accord, should use public funds for election purposes.”

Tella, however, observed that the prolonged local government crisis had already placed considerable strain on governance in the state.

On the other hand, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun, Sunday Bisi, described the freezing of the account as another stage in what he called a sustained campaign against Governor Adeleke’s re-election.

According to him, “The struggle started with the local government allocations. Now the state’s accounts have been frozen. The APC knows it cannot win this election through the ballot and that is why all these actions are taking place.”

President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), Debo Adeniran, said the action could only be justified if supported by credible evidence of financial wrongdoing.

“If there is reasonable suspicion of illegality, the EFCC can act. But if the action is politically motivated, then it is inconsistent with democratic principles,” he said.

“You cannot bring governance to a halt merely because an election is approaching.”

The factional Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Tosin Odeyemi, said the Council would study the development before taking an official position.

A former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, warned against actions that could inflame political tensions, recalling the political crisis that engulfed the old Western Region in the early 1960s.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to exercise restraint in deploying federal institutions, stressing that Osun holds a significant place in Nigeria’s political history.

Similarly, the PDP National Vice Chairman (South-West), Kamorudeen Ajisafe, argued that the freezing of a state’s account a few days before an election involving an incumbent governor was unprecedented in Nigeria’s democratic experience and warned that such actions could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

The political tension was further heightened yesterday when Afrobeat star and Chairman of the Imole Youth Campaign Mobilisation Team, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, appealed to the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Governorship Campaign Council in Osun State and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, not to allow the state degenerate into a political battlefield ahead of the election.

Davido, who is also a cousin of Governor Adeleke, made the appeal during a press conference in Osogbo.

While acknowledging that the election had heightened political tensions, the music star urged all political actors to place the state’s peace and stability above partisan interests.

“I understand the tension and emotions surrounding this election, but I urge everyone to remain calm. No political ambition, disagreement or election is worth the life of an Osun son or daughter,” he said.

“Let us reject violence, intimidation, provocation and destruction.”

Davido also appealed directly to Uzodimma over reports of alleged attempts to influence the conduct of the election.

“To our daddy from Imo State, I say this with respect. I have heard rumours suggesting that there are moves to interfere in the Osun election or use the state as a political battleground to prove a point.

“I do not present these claims as facts, but I appeal to you to use your influence to promote peace and allow the people of Osun to choose their candidate freely.”

Legal, political questions trail EFCC’s freeze of Osun accounts
THE latest development has inevitably raised fresh questions among political observers and stakeholders over whether the action could influence the outcome of the governorship election or further heighten the already charged political environment in the state.

The freezing of the account did not occur in isolation. Rather, it is the latest in a series of contentious developments that have shaped Osun’s political landscape in recent months. Since the campaigns gathered momentum, the state has witnessed disagreements over the control of local government administration following conflicting court pronouncements on the status of elected council officials.

The dispute subsequently resulted in renewed struggles over access to local government allocations, accusations and counter-accusations between the major political parties and concerns from civil society organisations over the impact of the crisis on grassroots governance.

Similarly, political activities across the state have increasingly been overshadowed by allegations of harassment, arrests of party supporters, violent clashes among rival political groups and accusations by opposition parties that federal security agencies were being deployed selectively.

The ruling Accord Party and the opposition APC have repeatedly traded accusations over attacks on supporters, destruction of campaign materials and attempts to intimidate political opponents, with security agencies maintaining that their operations were strictly in line with the law.

The controversy over campaign billboards and outdoor advertisements also became another flashpoint. The enforcement of signage regulations by the Osun State Signage Agency generated protests from opposition parties, which alleged selective enforcement, while the state government maintained that all operators were expected to comply with existing regulations irrespective of political affiliation.

These developments came against the backdrop of sustained political tension arising from defections, intense campaign activities and growing concerns expressed by election observers over the need for all institutions of government to remain impartial in the days leading to the governorship poll.

Police deploy 15,000 personnel for Osun governorship election
RELATEDLY, the Nigeria Police Force has deployed no fewer than 15,000 personnel for the governorship election.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Samuel Erale Etaifo, disclosed this yesterday while addressing police personnel deployed for the poll at the Police Officers’ Mess in Osogbo.

Etaifo said his early deployment to the state was necessitated by rising political tension and violence, which he said had resulted in attacks and killings in some communities.

He warned security personnel, politicians and political parties against engaging in acts capable of undermining the credibility of the election, stressing that anyone found violating the Electoral Act would be prosecuted.

According to him, all persons arrested for electoral offences during the election will be transferred to Abuja for further action.

“Arrested violators of electoral laws will be moved straight to Abuja. This election is a federal government election. Anybody arrested will be taken to Abuja. That’s the order,” he said.

Etaifo said the deployment would comprise conventional police officers, specialists, Police Mobile Force personnel, the dog section and medical teams.

“As I speak with you, the total number of officers that will come for this election… we should be expecting nothing less than 15,000. This includes conventional policemen, specialists, dog section, medical, PMF. The DIG and AIG in charge of these operations are coming.

“I will be the CP in charge of the election. That is why the IGP has deployed me here. We were supposed to arrive here about four or five days before the election, but because of the heightened tension, the IGP directed that I should come earlier,” he said.