By Friday Temitope Eugenia | National News

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has filed a N2 billion lawsuit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), challenging the agency’s decision to freeze the state’s Federal Statutory Allocation Account.

The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1763/2026, lists the Attorney General of Osun State and the state’s Accountant General as co-plaintiffs.

Joined as defendants are the EFCC, its Chairman, and First Bank Nigeria Limited.

In the suit filed on Wednesday by a legal team led by Prof. M.T. Adekilekun (SAN), the plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether the EFCC has the constitutional and statutory authority to freeze or restrict access to the state’s allocation account without first obtaining a valid court order.

The plaintiffs argued that the commission’s directive to place a “post no debit” restriction on the account violated provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the EFCC Establishment Act, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

According to the suit, the restriction was imposed through a letter dated August 5, 2026, and addressed to First Bank, where the Osun State Federal Statutory Allocation Account is domiciled.

The state government contended that the action was capable of crippling its constitutional responsibilities, including the delivery of essential public services and payment of statutory obligations.

Among the reliefs sought, the plaintiffs are asking the court to declare the freezing of the account unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void, and to order the immediate removal of all restrictions placed on the account.

They also requested a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from freezing or interfering with any Osun State Government account without due legal process and an order preventing First Bank from acting on similar directives unless backed by a court order.

In addition, the plaintiffs are seeking N2 billion in exemplary and aggravated damages for what they described as unlawful interference with public funds, as well as the cost of the litigation.

The lawsuit comes shortly after President Bola Tinubu directed the EFCC to approach the court for legal approval to unfreeze the Osun State Federal Statutory Allocation Account.

No hearing date has been fixed for the case.