By Opeyemi Adelakun
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately return to court to vacate the order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, saying the timing of the action, barely days before the state’s governorship election, risks creating the impression of federal interference in the electoral process.
In a personally signed statement released by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga on Thursday, the President said he was “deeply embarrassed” by the timing of the anti-graft agency’s action, even though the commission acted pursuant to a court order.
According to Tinubu, actions taken by federal institutions are often interpreted by the public as reflecting the position of the Presidency.
“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. I must state that I feel deeply embarrassed not by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate backed by a court order, but by the timing of the agency’s action,” the President stated.
Tinubu reaffirmed that since assuming office, he has consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must be allowed to discharge their constitutional responsibilities independently, professionally and without political interference.
He said he had deliberately refrained from directing or influencing the operational activities of the EFCC and other investigative or prosecutorial agencies because strong democratic institutions operating within the law remain essential to good governance and the rule of law.
The President, however, noted that although he had yet to receive a comprehensive briefing on the circumstances that informed the EFCC’s decision, he considered the timing of the action inappropriate.
He observed that with the Osun State governorship election only days away, every effort must be made to avoid creating the impression that any federal institution is being deployed to influence the outcome of the poll.
“Based on the foregoing premise, I am duty-bound to issue a directive on this issue in consonance with the overriding public interest in preserving public confidence and the integrity, credibility, and fairness of our democratic process,” Tinubu said.
He consequently directed the EFCC to immediately take steps to return to court, vacate the freezing order on the Osun State Government’s accounts and discontinue all related actions against the state.
According to the President, the directive is aimed at protecting public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions and ensuring that the forthcoming governorship election is conducted without any perception of undue federal interference.
Tinubu maintained that while anti-corruption agencies must continue to perform their statutory functions without fear or favour, such responsibilities should always be exercised in a manner that safeguards the integrity and credibility of the nation’s democratic process.
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