Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has instituted a N2 billion lawsuit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the freezing of the state’s Federal Statutory Allocation Account.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1762/2026, was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Also joined as plaintiffs are the Attorney General of Osun State and the state’s Accountant General, while the EFCC, its Chairman and First Bank of Nigeria Limited are listed as defendants.
In the originating suit, the plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether the anti-graft agency has the legal authority to freeze the state’s statutory allocation account without first obtaining an order from a court of competent jurisdiction.
Adeleke contended that the EFCC’s action breached provisions of the Constitution, the EFCC Establishment Act and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, arguing that the commission failed to comply with due process before directing that the account be frozen.
According to the court filings, the plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that the EFCC lacks the power to freeze, restrict or place a post-no-debit order on the Osun State Statutory Allocation Account without prior judicial approval.
They further argued that the directive issued to First Bank amounted to an unlawful interference with the constitutional powers of the Osun State Government, undermined the state’s financial autonomy and violated established legal procedures.
The suit is also seeking an order nullifying the directive that froze the account and compelling First Bank to immediately remove all restrictions, thereby restoring the state’s unrestricted access to its statutory allocation.
In addition, the governor is asking the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from freezing or interfering with any Osun State Government account without first complying with due legal process.
Adeleke is further seeking N2 billion in exemplary and aggravated damages for what he described as the unlawful interference with public funds, alongside the costs of the legal proceedings.
No date has been scheduled for the hearing of the case.
