A fresh court document obtained has revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured a Federal High Court order freezing not one but three bank accounts belonging to the Osun State Government over allegations of diversion of public funds and money laundering.
The newly obtained document shows that the anti-graft agency sought and obtained an ex parte order authorising the freezing of three allocation-related accounts pending the conclusion of its investigation and any subsequent prosecution.
The revelation comes amid mounting controversy over the commission’s action and a day after President Bola Tinubu directed the EFCC to immediately return to court to vacate the freezing order, describing its timing, coming days before the Osun governorship election, as “embarrassing” and capable of creating the impression of federal interference in the electoral process.
The order was granted on Tuesday, August 5, 2026, by Justice M. G. Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1750/2026, titled In the Matter of an Application by the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
According to the court document obtained, the EFCC asked the court to empower its Chairman, “or any officer authorised by him,” to direct the managing directors of the affected banks to freeze accounts listed in the schedule to the application.
The commission told the court the accounts were “currently being investigated in a case of Diversion of public funds and Money Laundering pending conclusion of investigation and prosecution.”
Justice Umar granted the application after counsel to the EFCC, M. A. Babatunde, moved the motion ex parte.
The court order covers the following accounts: Osun State Government Federal Allocation Account, domiciled with First Bank Plc, Account No. 2017170947; Osun State Joint Allocation Account, domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, Account No. 1013374191; and Osun State Joint Allocation Account, domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, Account No. 1014374909.
The application was supported by an affidavit sworn to by EFCC investigator Ikenna Chukwueze and an exhibit marked “EFCC 1.”
Justice Umar ordered that the freezing of the accounts should remain in force pending the conclusion of investigation and prosecution.
The court record was issued under the hand of the presiding judge, with Muazu Kasimu signing as Registrar.
The newly obtained document indicates that the scope of the court order is broader than previously known.
On Thursday, it was reported that President Tinubu directed the EFCC to immediately approach the court to vacate the freezing order and discontinue all related actions after expressing concern over the timing of the move ahead of the Osun governorship election.
The President said he was “deeply embarrassed” by the timing of the action, stressing that although the commission acted pursuant to a court order and within its statutory powers, the public would inevitably attribute the development to his administration.
Before Tinubu’s intervention, the EFCC had defended its action, saying it had been investigating the Osun State Government since March 2026 over the alleged fraudulent handling of Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations amounting to about ₦11 billion.
The commission said it sought the freezing order only after allegedly discovering what it described as “precipitate and unwarranted” movement of public funds into several corporate entities beginning on August 2, insisting the action was intended to prevent the alleged looting of public funds and was not politically motivated.
GISTSMATE MEDIA also reported that the Osun State Government subsequently sued the EFCC, its Executive Chairman and First Bank of Nigeria, accusing the anti-graft agency of unlawfully freezing the state’s accounts for political reasons just days before the governorship election.
Court filings seen show the state argued that the Federal Statutory Allocation Account is used to pay salaries, pensions, contractors, healthcare, education, security and other essential government obligations.
The government contended that the EFCC’s action was designed to cripple its finances at a politically sensitive period and sought, among other reliefs, an order unfreezing the accounts and ₦2 billion in damages.
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