Abubakar Yesufu, the leader of the League of Patriotic Lawyers, has defended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding its decision to block the Osun State Ecological Fund account. The move, aimed at preventing the potential misuse of over N11 billion, falls under the agency’s legal mandate to protect public assets from misappropriation.
According to Yesufu, the EFCC is authorized under the EFCC Act and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act to issue a 72-hour Post No Debit (PND) order. He explained that if the commission suspects financial misconduct, it has the authority to secure these funds, provided it subsequently obtains a court order to maintain the restriction. The group referenced a Court of Appeal ruling that upheld the commission’s ability to freeze accounts temporarily to prevent the dissipation of state resources.
The League of Patriotic Lawyers also lauded the EFCC for its ongoing investigations into multiple state governors for alleged financial mismanagement. Furthermore, the group encouraged the commission to maintain its momentum in the high-profile prosecution of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. Yesufu emphasized that the anti-graft agency must continue its operations with neutrality, ensuring that the law is applied equally regardless of an individual’s political status or influence.
