By Gloria Ikibah
The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of abusing its statutory powers by freezing the Osun State Government’s accounts barely days before the governorship election of the state, alleging that the action amounts to political interference aimed at undermining the democratic process.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Chairman Media and Publicity Committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam, the campaign council described the development as an unprecedented misuse of authority capable of disrupting governance and denying residents access to essential public services. 
Salam argued that the timing of the action, coming about 10 days before the governorship election in which the incumbent governor is seeking re-election, raises serious concerns over the motive behind the decision.
He said: “The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of going outside its mandate by interfering in the upcoming governorship election in Osun State, describing the freezing of Osun State Government account a few days to the election as a brazen abuse of authority and attack on the people.
“It is quite ludicrous that a body set up to fight infractions in the society is invariably enabling it. Nothing, other than politics can accurately explain the reprehensible action of the EFCC to freeze the account of Osun State Government just 10 days to election which the incumbent is a candidate.”
The council contended that the freezing of the state’s accounts had effectively crippled the government’s ability to discharge its constitutional responsibilities.
According to Salam, the action could affect the payment of workers’ salaries and pensions, execution of infrastructure projects, security operations and other essential public services.
“By implication, the EFCC as a body set up by law is frustrating a sub-national government from carrying out its lawful duties of payment of salary and allowances, pensions, fixing infrastructure, addressing security challenges and carrying out other duties which the Nigerian Constitution has entrusted unto the state”, he added.
The council further alleged that the anti-graft agency’s decision amounted to an assault on democratic governance and the rights of the people of Osun State.
“The EFCC has in other words executed a coup against the democratic expression of over five million citizens of a supposedly democratic country.
“In plain sight, what the EFCC has done is to recklessly weaponise its authority to exert economic pressure on Osun people in the bid to coerce them into schemed political choice”, Salam stated.
Salam also warned that the development could disrupt critical public services, including healthcare programmes, insisting that public institutions should never be used as political tools.
“With the politically motivated action of the EFCC, many essential services, including planning for some public health interventions, can no longer go on.
“This is very unfair to Osun people because we believe that public institutions should never become a political weapon against ordinary citizens”, he expressed worries.
While reiterating the council’s support for transparency and accountability in public office, Salam maintained that the anti-corruption campaign must not be used as a cover for political persecution.
The campaign organisation urged the commission to immediately reverse its decision and allow the state government to continue its operations without hindrance.
“As much as we are not opposed to accountability in governance, we state our total rejection to political witch-hunting disguised as corruption fight.
“The EFCC approach, timing and the follow-up posture all have politics written over it, and we want to call on the anti-graft body to immediately stop further attempts to interfere with the will of Osun people.
“We maintain that Osun people have every rights to democratic choices via the poll and as such, will not accept the subtle attempt by the EFCC to subdue their wills through abuse of authority.
“We therefore call on the EFCC to immediately unfreeze the account so that governance can continue and the people can get the services they deserved”, he said.
The EFCC had not issued a response to the allegations at the time of filing this report.
