RismadarVoice Reporters, August 6, 2026
The Nigerian Bar Association has questioned the legality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s decision to restrict withdrawals from an Osun State Government account.
The EFCC directed First Bank to place the state’s statutory allocation account on “Post No Debit” status as part of an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of about 11 billion naira in public funds.
The commission said the action followed suspicious transfers detected from August 2, adding that the investigation had been ongoing since March.
However, NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the EFCC could not impose a blanket restriction on a state government’s finances without proper legal authority.
Other senior lawyers also questioned the action, although legal opinions differed on the extent of the EFCC’s powers to temporarily restrict transactions pending a court order.
The EFCC maintained that its action was not politically motivated despite coming days before the August 15 Osun governorship election.
Opposition parties condemned the restriction, alleging political interference, while the All Progressives Congress defended the EFCC, saying the commission should be allowed to investigate suspected financial crimes.
Osun State Attorney General, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, said the state government would challenge the restriction at the Federal High Court, arguing that the EFCC cannot freeze the account without a court order.
The controversy has heightened political and legal tensions in Osun ahead of the governorship election.
