Human Rights Lawyer Says Osun Account Freeze Is Not the First Such Action by EFCC
Abuja, Nigeria | August 8, 2026
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has previously frozen the bank accounts of state governments, arguing that the controversy surrounding the recent action against the Osun State Government is not unprecedented.
Adeyanju made the statement while speaking on the Mic On Podcast on Saturday, August 8, 2026, during a discussion on the EFCC’s decision to restrict the accounts of the Osun State Government.
The lawyer cited Benue and Edo states as examples of previous instances in which the anti-graft agency allegedly took similar action against state government accounts.
According to Adeyanju, the EFCC froze the account of the Benue State Government during the administration of former Governor Samuel Ortom.
He also recalled an incident involving the Edo State Government, which he said occurred close to an election and generated considerable controversy at the time.
Adeyanju said:
“EFCC has frozen the accounts of State Governments in the past. In the past, you will recall that EFCC froze the account of Benue State Government under Ortom. EFCC also froze the account of Edo State. It was close to election and I think there were a lot of hullabaloo at that period.”
His comments come amid intense debate over the EFCC’s decision to place restrictions on an account belonging to the Osun State Government, just days before the state’s governorship election.
The Osun State Government has challenged the action, with Governor Ademola Adeleke directing the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to seek legal redress.
The EFCC, however, has defended its action, saying it was based on an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities involving approximately ₦11 billion in public funds.
The commission said investigators observed what it described as unusual and suspicious transfers from government accounts to several corporate entities and moved to prevent further movement of the funds while investigations continue.
The EFCC has also maintained that its action was not politically motivated and was unrelated to the forthcoming Osun governorship election.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has separately expressed concern over the timing of the EFCC action, saying he was embarrassed by the timing rather than by the commission’s exercise of its statutory mandate.
The President stressed that anti-corruption agencies must be allowed to operate independently and professionally, but warned that actions taken so close to an election should not create the impression that federal institutions are being used to interfere with the electoral process.
Adeyanju’s reference to previous cases involving Benue and Edo has added another dimension to the ongoing debate over the EFCC’s powers, the freezing of government accounts and the timing of anti-corruption interventions during election periods.
The controversy is expected to continue as the Osun State Government pursues its legal challenge and the EFCC proceeds with its investigation.
IBN NEWS will continue to monitor the legal and political developments surrounding the Osun account controversy.
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