The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has dealt a heavy blow to the EFCC, declaring that the anti-graft agency overstepped its legal boundaries by unilaterally freezing Osun State government’s bank accounts.
In a stern warning, outgoing NBA President Afam Osigwe said the commission’s post-no-debit (PND) order on the state’s statutory allocation account is “unconstitutional” and constitutes an “abuse of power.”
The Standoff: N11 Billion Fraud Allegation
The EFCC had directed First Bank to block withdrawals from Osun’s account as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged fraudulent handling of N11 billion in ecological and intervention funds.
The directive, contained in an August 5 letter signed by Assistant Commander Adenike Babalola, accused the state government of making suspicious transfers to corporate entities since August 2.
NBA: EFCC Overreached
Osigwe made it clear: the anti-graft agency cannot unilaterally ground a state government’s operations.
“No government agency or any person has the right or the power to restrict withdrawals from the account of any state because, first of all, the order has the effect of grounding the activities of a government,” he told The Punch.
The outgoing NBA president argued that if the EFCC suspects fraud, it must follow due process.
“If the EFCC knows that any particular account is being used for the purpose of fraud, it may be able to obtain a court order, but it cannot make a blanket order freezing the accounts of any state,” Osigwe said.
He urged First Bank to disregard the EFCC’s directive, warning that such orders risk becoming a dangerous precedent.
Adeleke Fires Back
Governor Ademola Adeleke had already rejected the EFCC’s move, describing it as part of a pattern of sponsored attacks against his administration, including harassment of Accord party members and efforts to stall local government operations.
What Happens Next?
With the NBA now weighing in, pressure mounts on the EFCC to either secure a court order or back down. The standoff raises critical constitutional questions about federal agencies’ powers over subnational governments.
