The Centre for Public Accountability, Rule of Law and Transparency Initiative has backed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) restriction of an account belonging to the Osun State Government, while faulting President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the commission to lift the court-backed restriction.
The group, led by Dr Raymond Chukwuebuka Ndukwe, said the EFCC should be allowed to carry out its statutory responsibilities irrespective of the timing of its investigations or the political calendar.
Although the President acknowledged the EFCC’s authority to act under the court order, he was said to have questioned the timing of the action.
The group, however, argued that the timing of an anti-corruption investigation should not prevent the commission from exercising its mandate.
“There is no such thing as a good or bad time for the EFCC to carry out its constitutional duties. The optics may be unfavourable for the President, but the EFCC must discharge its mandate regardless,” the statement partly read.
The group said the Osun case was not the first instance in which the EFCC had placed restrictions on a state government account.
It cited Benue State in 2018, Kogi State during the second tenure of former Governor Yahaya Bello, Edo State in 2025 and Osun State in 2026 as documented instances involving restrictions on state government accounts over suspected financial crimes.
The group maintained that the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the EFCC’s enabling laws empower the commission to investigate and combat economic and financial crimes, including the alleged misappropriation of public funds.
It argued that the commission’s mandate should not be influenced by political considerations, and also criticised what it described as the repeated politicisation of EFCC operations, saying actions by anti-corruption agencies are often portrayed as political witch-hunts.
On the Osun case, the group said, based on information available to it, the EFCC had commenced investigations involving the state government before imposing the account restriction.
The group said the approaching governorship election should not prevent the commission from investigating suspected financial wrongdoing, and also relied on provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, to support its position.
It cited Section 7(6), which provides for a stop order of up to 72 hours where an account or transaction is suspected to be connected to an unlawful act.
The group said Section 7(8) further empowers the Federal High Court, upon an application by the relevant authorities, to order that funds, accounts or securities be blocked where the origin of funds cannot be ascertained within the stipulated period.
It also cited the Court of Appeal decision in EFCC v. A-G Benue State & Ors (2022) LPELR-58696(CA), which it said affirmed the EFCC’s power to place a 72-hour stop order on an account suspected to be involved in financial crime without first obtaining a court order.
According to the group, the court further held that a state government account falls within the class of accounts that may be frozen by the EFCC in accordance with due process.
It also referred to NPG Properties & Construction Works Ltd v. Zenith Bank Plc (2023) 15 NWLR (Pt. 1908) 423), which it said recognised the commission’s power to impose a stop order under applicable money-laundering legislation.
The group maintained that the EFCC’s powers extend to accounts belonging to federal, state and local governments, subject to due process.
The Centre for Public Accountability, Rule of Law and Transparency Initiative reiterated its support for the EFCC’s actions and urged stakeholders to allow the commission to perform its statutory duties without political interference.
“The defence of public funds is not a partisan project; it is a constitutional imperative,” the group said.
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