By Ayo Kehinde
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen an Osun State Government salary account domiciled with First Bank, intensifying political tension barely 10 days before the August 15 governorship election.
An official EFCC directive dated August 5, 2026, instructed the Managing Director of First Bank, through its Chief Compliance Officer, to place the Osun State Government Salary Account on “Post No Debit” (PND) status.
The letter, signed on behalf of the Director of an investigation by ACE I. Adesina S. Sobolo, stated that the restriction was imposed in connection with the Commission’s “investigation activities.”
It cited Sections 38(1) and (2) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, and Section 24 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as the legal basis for the directive.
The development came hours after Governor Ademola Adeleke publicly alleged that the anti-graft agency had concluded plans to freeze all Osun State Government accounts and those belonging to top officials of his administration.
Composite image showing the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), amid the controversy over the freezing of the state’s salary account ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, quoted the governor as saying he had received credible reports of the planned action.
According to Adeleke, the alleged plan, if carried out, would amount to “the height of lawlessness” and was aimed at frustrating government activities ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
“The plot to freeze the state government accounts is meant to paralyse government activities ahead of the August 15 governorship election,” the statement read.
The governor had alleged that the EFCC was also planning to freeze the accounts of top government functionaries, warning that such action would severely disrupt governance and public administration.
Adeleke insisted that there was no legal justification for freezing the accounts of a state government, maintaining that the EFCC lacks the constitutional and statutory powers to take such action.
He called on the Commission to refrain from actions capable of undermining democratic governance or disrupting the payment of workers’ salaries and other essential government obligations.
The EFCC directive dated August 5, 2026, instructing First Bank to place the Osun State Government Salary Account on “Post No Debit” (PND) status as part of the Commission’s investigation activities.
Shortly after the governor’s statement, a senior government source confirmed that the salary account had already been frozen.
The confirmation aligns with the contents of the EFCC directive, indicating that the restriction had already taken effect.
The affected account is understood to be one of the state’s principal salary accounts, raising concerns over possible delays in salary payments and the smooth running of government operations if the restriction remains in place.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not issued any official public statement explaining the reasons for the account restriction or responding to the allegations made by the Osun State Government.
