Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has condemned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over its directive freezing the Osun State Government’s bank account, describing the action as an abuse of power and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The anti-graft agency had directed First Bank Plc to place a Post No Debit (PND) restriction on the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged fraudulent handling of N11 billion ecological and intervention funds.
The directive was contained in a letter dated August 5, 2026, and signed by Adenike Babalola, an Assistant Commander of the EFCC, on behalf of the Director of Investigation.
Reacting to the development in his latest newsletter, Makinde said the increasing use of federal institutions to disrupt governance in opposition-controlled states was condemnable.
According to him, while no government or public official should be exempt from scrutiny, the selective deployment of institutions such as the EFCC against certain states or office holders undermines public confidence in the anti-corruption agency.
“No government is above scrutiny, but when institutions like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are utilised to witch-hunt specific states or public office holders, it indicates that their investigations are selective and erodes public trust in these institutions,” he said.
Makinde further argued that the freezing of an official state government account without due legal process exceeded the powers granted to the EFCC under Nigerian law.
“The ‘freezing’ of an official state government account without due legal process goes beyond the powers vested in the EFCC by the laws of our land,” he stated.
The governor also questioned the timing of the action, alleging that it was aimed at influencing the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State.
“And the timing of the action suggests that this is just another attempt by the federal government to unduly influence the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State,” he added.
Makinde urged federal institutions to remain faithful to their constitutional mandates by carrying out their responsibilities with fairness, professionalism and political neutrality.
He also called on Nigerians, civil society organisations and the international community to remain vigilant, warning that democracy could not flourish where public institutions were perceived as instruments of political intimidation.
“Protecting the independence and credibility of our institutions is essential to preserving public trust and safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy. The rule of law must prevail over the rule of politics,” the governor said.
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