The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has defended its decision to place a temporary restriction on an Osun State Government bank account, insisting that it has the legal authority to freeze a suspicious account for up to 72 hours without first obtaining a court order. The commission said the action was taken in line with its statutory mandate to prevent the possible diversion of public funds.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, the EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, explained that investigators observed what they described as suspicious financial transactions on the affected account over the previous week. According to him, the commission imposed a targeted restriction on only one government account and did not freeze all of Osun State’s bank accounts.
Uwujaren stated that the EFCC’s authority is derived from Section 34 of the EFCC (Establishment) Act and Section 7(6) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which, according to the commission, permit a temporary restriction on an account for up to 72 hours. He added that if investigators wish to maintain the restriction beyond that period, they must obtain a court order.
The EFCC further disclosed that it has been investigating the Osun State Government since March 2026 over the alleged mismanagement of about ₦11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations. While stressing that the investigation alone did not justify freezing the account, the commission said recent movements of funds prompted it to act in order to preserve the account pending further inquiries.
The commission’s position has been strongly challenged by the Osun State Government, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and other legal commentators, who argue that freezing a government account without prior judicial approval violates due process. Governor Ademola Adeleke has already directed the state’s Attorney General to challenge the restriction in court, setting the stage for a legal battle that could clarify the limits of the EFCC’s investigative powers under Nigerian law.
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