The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the reported freezing of an Osun State Government bank account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), warning that the development could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The rights group said the reported action, allegedly taken less than two weeks before the poll, raises serious constitutional, legal and democratic concerns, particularly if it was carried out without a valid court order or other lawful authority.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA argued that the timing of the reported restriction, said to involve an account used for the payment of workers’ salaries, risks fuelling suspicions that federal institutions are being deployed in a manner capable of disrupting governance during an election period.
“It is unacceptable that any action by a federal agency should create the impression that governance in a federating state can be crippled on the eve of an election without the highest standards of transparency, legality and accountability,” the group said.
HURIWA maintained that anti-corruption agencies derive their legitimacy from strict adherence to the Constitution and due process, warning that the credibility of law enforcement institutions could be weakened if their actions appear politically motivated or selectively applied.
While acknowledging that the EFCC has a statutory responsibility to investigate allegations of financial crimes, the association insisted that such investigations must be conducted within the confines of the law and without unnecessarily paralysing government activities or inflicting hardship on innocent citizens.
The group argued that any restriction on public funds should be backed by judicial authorisation and accompanied by full disclosure of the legal basis for the action.
“It is not enough to invoke anti-corruption. Nigerians deserve to know whether this reported action was authorised by a competent court, the statutory provisions relied upon and the public interest considerations that informed such a consequential decision,” HURIWA stated.
The organisation called on the EFCC to publicly clarify the circumstances surrounding the reported account freeze, including the legal authority under which it acted and the measures taken to ensure that essential government services are not disrupted.
It also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary, the Nigerian Bar Association, the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organisations and election observers to remain vigilant in protecting the integrity of the Osun governorship election.
HURIWA further appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that federal institutions operate strictly within their constitutional mandates and avoid actions capable of creating the perception of political interference in the electoral process.
The group maintained that if the reported restriction cannot be justified by due process and clear legal authority, it should be lifted immediately in the interest of constitutional governance, democratic stability and public confidence in state institutions.