Tinubu directs EFCC to vacate order freezing Osun government accounts

Abdullateef Fowewe

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to return to court and vacate the order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government.

The President gave the directive in a statement issued on Thursday, after learning that the anti-corruption agency had obtained a court order on August 5 to freeze the state government’s accounts.

Tinubu said he was “deeply embarrassed” not by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate, but by the timing of the action, coming only days before the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15.

“It has come to my notice that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government,” the President said.

He stated that actions taken by federal institutions were often attributed to him, even when he had no prior knowledge of them.

Tinubu added that he had consistently supported the independence of anti-corruption and law-enforcement agencies.

“Since assuming office, I have consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must be allowed to discharge their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally, without fear or favour, or political interference,” he said.

The President, however, expressed concern that the timing of the EFCC’s action could create the impression that the agency or another federal institution was being used to influence the election.

“Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the federal government is being used to interfere with the election,” Tinubu said.

He said his intervention was necessary to protect public confidence in the democratic process and preserve the credibility and fairness of the election.

“Accordingly, I have directed the EFCC to immediately proceed to the court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government in this regard,” the President stated.

The EFCC had earlier said the restriction was connected to an investigation into the alleged movement of about ₦11 billion in public funds and was not related to the forthcoming governorship election.