Osun EFCC Freeze Triggers Lawsuits Ahead of 2026 Gubernatorial Vote
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a Federal High Court order on 5 August 2026 to freeze three Osun State government accounts – the Federal Statutory Allocation Account with First Bank and two Joint Allocation Accounts with Zenith Bank – citing investigations into alleged diversion of public funds and money‑laundering involving roughly ₦11 billion.
Governor Ademola Adeleke responded by filing a ₦2 billion lawsuit in Abuja, alleging the freeze was unlawful, unconstitutional and intended to disrupt the state’s functions ahead of the 15 August 2026 governorship election. President Bola Tinubu subsequently directed the EFCC to vacate the freeze, describing the timing as “embarrassing”.
The Accord Party, led by National Chairman Maxwell Mgbudem, condemned the EFCC’s action as partisan, demanded the resignation of EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, and called for the release of 60 detained Accord members across Abuja, Osun and Nasarawa. The state government denied any looting, labeling the EFCC’s allegations as politically motivated and asserting that the frozen funds were earmarked for infrastructure, workers’ welfare and other development projects.
Entities: Ademola Adeleke · All Progressives Congress · All Progressives Congress (APC) · Bola Tinubu · Economic and Financial Crimes Commission · Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) · First Bank Nigeria Limited · Gboyega Oyetola · Governor Ademola Adeleke · Maxwell Mgbudem · Osun State · Osun State Government
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Accord Party National Chairman Maxwell Mgbudem demanded the resignation of EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede. (Accord Party press conference)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The EFCC obtained a court order on 5 August 2026 to freeze three Osun State government accounts. (EFCC, court documents, multiple articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] President Bola Tinubu ordered the EFCC to vacate the freeze on Osun State accounts. (Presidential statement, news coverage)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The court order authorized the EFCC to freeze the Federal Allocation Account with First Bank and two Joint Allocation Accounts with Zenith Bank. (Court document, news reports)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The EFCC said the freeze was to prevent diversion of public funds and money‑laundering involving about ₦11 billion. (EFCC statement, news reports)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Accord Party called for the release of 60 detained Accord members detained in Abuja, Osun and Nasarawa. (Accord Party statements)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Osun State Government denied any looting of ₦11 billion and called the EFCC freeze politically motivated. (State government statement)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Governor Ademola Adeleke filed a ₦2 billion lawsuit against the EFCC over the account freeze. (Governor's legal filing, news reports)