Pro-democracy organisations have urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately unfreeze the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, alleging that the action taken 10 days to the governorship election is politically motivated.
In a letter dated August 5 and signed by Bankole Solomon, the groups expressed “deep concern and strong objection” to the freezing of the state’s accounts.
The letter, which was addressed to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC in Abuja, noted that the timing and manner of the action raise serious questions of political neutrality, fairness, and constitutional propriety.
According to the letter, freezing the accounts of an entire state government at this critical period when salaries, pensions, health services, security votes and election-related governance activities are ongoing creates avoidable hardship for millions of citizens.
“This action, coming so close to an election, gives the impression of an attempt to cripple the state government and influence the electoral process,” the group stated.
The pro-democracy groups also accused the Commission of partiality and selective action.
“If this action is truly in the public interest and non-partisan, we expect to see similar decisive actions against ALL states with pending investigations, regardless of the political party in power,” the letter read.
It added that the perception that the EFCC is being used as an instrument of the ruling party at the federal level damages public confidence in the Commission and in Nigeria’s democracy.
The group further argued that freezing a state’s account affects civil servants, pensioners, hospitals, and essential services, and punishes innocent citizens for an investigation that has not concluded.
It said the approach contradicts the principles of due process and the rule of law enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
The groups, therefore, demanded the immediate unfreezing of the Osun State Government accounts, a public explanation on why the action was taken 10 days to the election and what urgent threat necessitated it.
It also wants an “assurance of non-interference by the EFCC in the forthcoming Osun State Governorship Election.”
“The EFCC was created to fight corruption, not to be perceived as fighting opposition. Nigerians expect the Commission to be independent, professional, and above partisan politics,” the letter stated.
