Osun Threatens Legal Battle with EFCC Over Frozen LG Allocation Accounts

Osun Threatens Legal Battle with EFCC Over Frozen LG Allocation Accounts9

The Osun State Government has threatened to take legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the reported freezing of local government allocation accounts, describing the move as unconstitutional, unlawful and a direct violation of the financial autonomy guaranteed to local governments under the Nigerian Constitution.

In a statement issued by the state government, officials expressed deep concern over the development, saying the restriction has disrupted the smooth disbursement of statutory allocations to the state’s 30 local government councils.

According to the government, the action has created uncertainty in the administration of the councils and could negatively affect the timely payment of workers’ salaries, ongoing developmental projects, provision of healthcare, education, sanitation and other essential services at the grassroots.

The government argued that the affected accounts contain constitutionally protected public funds meant solely for the administration and development of local government areas. It maintained that any attempt to freeze such accounts without due legal process amounts to an abuse of power and undermines the constitutional framework governing local government finances and fiscal independence.

Osun government further stated that it had not been served with any valid court order authorising the freezing of the accounts and insisted that the EFCC’s action lacked legal justification.

The government warned that unless the restriction is lifted without delay, it would approach the courts to challenge the action and seek appropriate legal remedies, including an order compelling the immediate unfreezing of the accounts and protecting the constitutional rights of the local governments.

It would be recalled that President Bola Tinubu on thursday directed the EFCC to immediately unfreeze the accounts ahead of the governorship election coming up next week saturday