The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has defended its decision to freeze the statutory bank account of the Osun state government.
Speaking at an interview on Arise Television on Thursday,
Wilson Uwujaren, the director of public affairs, said the EFCC Establishment
Act and the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act 2022 empowers
the agency to take such action.
He said the decision to freeze the account did not stop the
Osun government from funding its activities since the state has access to funds
in other accounts.
Uwujaren said the restriction placed on the Osun account
would remain in effect for 72 hours, after which the agency would approach the
court for an order if it deemed it necessary.
He added the agency observed that after every election cycle
in states, there are always complaints of empty treasury from the incoming administration.
“A number of people have asked whether the commission has
the power to do so under the law. I can assure you that we have the power to
place a temporary restriction on an account,” he said.
“Section 34 of the EFCC Act and Section 7, Subsection 6 of
the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2022 give us that authority to take that
step
“The restriction order can last within 72 hours before we
can come with a court order if we need to provide a court order.”
Section 34 (1) of the EFCC Act states that: “Notwithstanding
anything contained in any other enactment or law, the Chairman of the
Commission or any officer authorised by him may, if
satisfied that the money in the account of a person is made through the
commission of an offence under this Act and/or any of the enactments specified
under section 7 (2) (a) to (f) of this Act, apply to the Court ex parte for
power to issue an order as specified in Form B of the Schedule to this Act,
addressed to the manager of the bank or any person in
control of the financial institution or designated non‐financial
institution where the account is or believed by him to be or the head office of
the bank, other financial institution or designated non‐financial
institution to freeze the account.”
However, section 7(6) of the Money Laundering (Prevention
& Prohibition) Act 2022 states that: “Notwithstanding the provisions of
subsection (5), the Unit or the Commission or the authorised representatives
shall place a stop order not exceeding 72 hours, on any account or transaction
if it is discovered that such account or transaction is suspected to be
involved in any unlawful act.”
‘EDO SUFFERED THE SAME FATE’
During the interview, Uwujaren was asked if the EFCC froze
the account of the Ekiti state government during the June 2026 governorship
election.
He responded that the anti-graft agency did not have any
reason to intervene in Ekiti unlike the situation in Osun.
The director said the same scenario in Osun played out
during the 2024 Edo governorship election when the EFCC froze the bank account
belonging to the Edo government.
He added that the decision of the agency made the state to save the sum of N12 billion naira
“Osun state is not the first state we are taking this kind
of action,” Uwujaren said.
“During the Edo state election, before the coming into
office of governor Okpebholo, EFCC also took action to restrict the account of
that state government when we saw that funds were being moved to suspicious
accounts.
“We were able to protect 12 billion for them. That is why
the current government was able to come on board and had resources to work.”
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