Osun Account Freeze: EFCC Can Restrict Bank Account For 72 Hours Without Court Order — Uwujaren

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has defended its decision to place a restriction on an Osun State Government bank account, insisting that it is legally empowered to temporarily freeze suspicious accounts for up to 72 hours without first obtaining a court order.

The commission’s director of public affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, made the clarification during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, following criticism from the Osun State Government and the Nigerian Bar Association over the action.

Uwujaren explained that the restriction was imposed after the anti-graft agency detected what it described as suspicious financial transactions on the account over the past week.

“As we indicated in the statement released by the Commission, we took that step to preserve the account of the Osun State Government. We observed in the past one week that activities on that account looked suspicious, and based on the mandate of the Commission, we took the step of placing a restriction on that account to preserve it,” he said.

He stressed that the action was not a blanket freeze on the state’s finances but was limited to a single account under investigation.

“That restriction order does not mean that all the accounts of Osun State have been frozen. It is just a targeted restriction on one account of the Osun State Government,” Uwujaren stated.

According to him, investigators noticed substantial transfers from the account to several corporate entities within a short period, prompting the intervention.

“The essence is to preserve that account because we observed suspicious activities in terms of the transfer of funds to a number of entities within one week. We had to take that decision, irrespective of the ongoing election process,” he added.

Uwujaren argued that the EFCC would have faced public backlash if it failed to act and public funds were subsequently diverted.

“We have the responsibility under the law to do so because if funds are looted from the account, Nigerians will ask where the EFCC was when the money was being moved,” he said.

He also dismissed concerns that the restriction would cripple governance in the state, noting that the Osun Government still has access to other accounts.

“It does not stop the Osun State Government from running the government because they have access to other funds in their other accounts. This is not a blanket freezing; it is a targeted restriction,” he said.

On the legal basis for the action, Uwujaren cited Section 34 of the EFCC Act and Section 7(6) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, saying both provisions empower the Commission to temporarily restrict transactions on suspicious accounts.

He further disclosed that such restrictions can remain in force for up to 72 hours before the Commission is required to seek a court order if it intends to extend the measure.

“The restriction order can last within 72 hours before we can come with a court order if we need to provide one,” he explained.

The EFCC had earlier revealed that it has been investigating the Osun State Government since March 2026 over the alleged fraudulent management of about N11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.

The Commission also disclosed that several state officials, including the Accountant-General, have already been interrogated as part of the ongoing investigation.