Osun govt reveals ‘real reason’ EFCC froze state account

…says no N11bn was looted

The Osun State Government has denied allegations that ₦11 billion was looted from its treasury, insisting there was no financial misconduct behind the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) decision to freeze its bank accounts.

The government described the allegation as false and accused the anti-graft agency of trying to justify what it called an unlawful action with unfounded claims. It maintained that public funds had been prudently utilised for infrastructure, workers’ welfare and other development projects across the state.

Tribune Online reports that the EFCC said it froze the Osun State Government’s bank accounts to prevent the alleged diversion of public funds ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

However, in a statement posted on X on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government alleged that the accounts were frozen on the instruction of a former governor of the state in order to stop the payment of palliatives promised to workers.

“The real reason the commission froze the state account on the order of Gboyega Oyetola was to stop the payment of palliatives which the state government promised the workers some months ago,” the statement said.

The government said the account freeze did not stop it from paying the palliatives, adding that all eligible workers had received the support after negotiations aimed at cushioning the effects of the country’s economic hardship.

“Fortunately, we have paid the palliatives to all Osun State workers,” the statement added, noting that the subsidy “was not the first time such a cost of living subsidy was paid to Osun workers.”

The state government also accused the EFCC of pursuing a politically motivated…