According to him, government accounts nationwide, including those of the federal government and its agencies, should also be frozen whenever elections are approaching if such concerns are to be applied consistently.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, has cautioned public officials serving under successive Nigerian governments against placing their loyalty in politicians, warning that political leaders can "throw you under the bus" whenever it suits their interests.
Reacting to the controversy surrounding the freezing of the Osun State Government's account and President Bola Tinubu's subsequent directive to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure its unfreezing, Olumide-Fusika said public officials should prioritise serving the people and ensure that their decisions are guided by conscience and the public interest.
Speaking on Arise TV on Friday, the senior lawyer also argued that the EFCC should not be vested with the power to freeze government accounts, saying such authority could easily become problematic, particularly during election periods.
He maintained that if the justification for freezing a state government's account is to prevent public funds from being diverted to finance elections, then the same principle should apply across the board.
