Social commentator and businessman, Isaac Fayose, has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over its decision to freeze the Osun State Government’s account, describing the action as selective, politically motivated and capable of disrupting governance.
Fayose, the younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, made the remarks in a video posted on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday, where he questioned the timing of the anti-graft agency’s action ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
The EFCC had earlier placed a “Post No Debit” restriction on Osun State’s statutory allocation account domiciled with First Bank of Nigeria as part of an ongoing investigation into the state’s finances.
Reacting to the development, Fayose accused the commission of applying different standards in the discharge of its duties, alleging that it failed to take similar action against the Ekiti State Government during the June governorship election despite claims of widespread vote-buying.
“How can you freeze a whole state account, putting about four million people into nonsense? Why didn’t you freeze Ekiti’s account in June? Why did you allow Ekiti to buy votes?” he asked.
He further alleged that governments perceived to be aligned with the Federal Government were spared similar scrutiny, while Osun State was being targeted in the build-up to its governorship election.
Fayose also expressed concerns over the 2027 general election, alleging that there were plans by unnamed political actors to influence the outcome of the polls.
He urged Nigerians to demand greater accountability from key electoral and anti-corruption institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the EFCC.
“These people will come back if you keep quiet. The more you keep quiet, the more they do it,” he said.
The comments come amid growing controversy over the EFCC’s decision to restrict transactions on Osun State Government accounts.
Governor Ademola Adeleke had on Wednesday described the action as illegal, insisting that the anti-graft agency lacked the authority to freeze a state’s account without first obtaining a court order.
The governor directed the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, to challenge the action at the Federal High Court in Osogbo.
Jimi-Bada also argued that although the EFCC possesses powers to investigate financial transactions, it cannot lawfully freeze government accounts without judicial authorisation.
However, the EFCC defended its action, disclosing in a statement posted on its official X account that it had been investigating the Osun State Government since March 2026 over the alleged mismanagement of approximately ₦11 billion in ecology, intervention and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds.
According to the commission, while the investigation alone would not have necessitated freezing the accounts, it detected what it described as suspicious movements of funds from the government’s accounts beginning August 2, prompting the restriction.
Also reacting to the development, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, warned that restricting access to a state government’s accounts could cripple governance and amount to an abuse of power.
The controversy comes ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election, where Governor Adeleke, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party, will face other contenders.