Osun State Sues EFCC, First Bank Over Account Freeze

The Osun State Government has initiated legal proceedings against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), its Executive Chairman, and First Bank of Nigeria, seeking N2 billion in damages due to the restriction placed on its statutory allocation account. The lawsuit was filed in the Federal High Court in Abuja and demands the immediate removal of the account freeze, which the government argues is unlawful and politically motivated, occurring just days before the August 15 governorship election.

Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Attorney-General of Osun State, and the Accountant-General are involved in the legal action through related applications. The court documents reveal that the EFCC issued a letter on August 5, 2026, directing First Bank to freeze the account without a court order.

The Osun Government claims that the EFCC lacks the authority to freeze a state account without judicial approval and accuses First Bank of failing to demand a valid court order before complying with the directive. The government asserts that this action could severely impact governance during a sensitive political period.