Fresh court documents reveal EFCC froze three Osun State Government accounts before President Tinubu ordered the anti-graft agency to vacate the order
EFCC Froze Three Osun Government Accounts Before Tinubu Ordered Lift — Documents
Fresh details have emerged on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s account freeze involving the Osun State Government, with court documents showing that the anti-graft agency obtained an order to restrict three government accounts, not one as previously reported.
The development came to light amid growing controversy over the timing of the EFCC’s action, which occurred barely 10 days before the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
Documents obtained by Sahara Reporters showed that the EFCC secured an ex parte order from the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 5, 2026, authorising the freezing of three accounts operated by the Osun State Government.
The affected accounts comprise the state’s Federal Allocation Account domiciled with First Bank Plc and two Joint Allocation Accounts held with Zenith Bank Plc.
The order was obtained through an ex parte application filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1750/2026.
The development contrasts with earlier communications from the EFCC, which appeared to indicate that only one Osun State Government account had been restricted.
According to the report, EFCC lawyer, M. A. Babatunde, told the court that the affected accounts were “currently being investigated in a case of Diversion of public funds and Money Laundering pending conclusion of investigation and prosecution.”
The application was supported by an affidavit sworn by EFCC investigator Ikenna Chukwueze and an exhibit marked “EFCC 1.”
After hearing the application, Justice Mohammed Umar authorised EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede “or any officer authorised by him” to direct the managing directors of the affected banks to freeze the accounts listed in the application.
The judge ordered that the restrictions remain in place until the conclusion of the EFCC’s investigation.
The three accounts listed in the court order were the Osun State Government Federal Allocation Account domiciled with First Bank Plc, and two Osun State Joint Allocation Accounts domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc.
The court order was not publicly disclosed until President Bola Tinubu intervened in the controversy on Thursday and directed the EFCC to immediately take steps to vacate it.
The development has generated political controversy because of its timing, with the Osun governorship election scheduled for August 15. Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party is seeking re-election against the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
The controversy has also fuelled claims by political actors and supporters of Adeleke that federal institutions could be using their powers selectively against the governor and his party ahead of the election.
Tinubu, however, said he was not questioning the EFCC’s mandate but was concerned about the timing of the action and its potential impact on public confidence in the electoral process.
“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 said.
“This is so because every action taken by an institution of State, especially at the Federal level, is always credited to me, as the President, even when I may not have had any prior knowledge of the action.”
Tinubu said he had deliberately avoided interfering in the operational activities of investigative and prosecutorial agencies but considered the Osun case an exception because of the proximity of 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,” he stated.
“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,” the president added.
“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’s intervention followed reports that the EFCC had restricted an Osun State Government account with First Bank over alleged suspicious movement of public funds.
The anti-graft agency had said the restriction was connected to an ongoing investigation into alleged financial misconduct involving about N11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federation Account Allocation Committee allocations.
The EFCC initially imposed a Post-No-Debit restriction on the First Bank account. Its Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, subsequently appeared on Arise Television to defend the action, explaining that the commission would obtain a court order within 72 hours in accordance with its enabling law.
The emergence of the August 5 court order has now provided the first clear indication that the account restriction was backed by judicial authorisation.
However, it remains unclear whether the EFCC has formally approached the Federal High Court to vacate the freeze orders as directed by the president.
Tinubu’s directive has marked a dramatic turn in the controversy, with the president seeking to prevent the EFCC’s action from being interpreted as an attempt to influence the outcome of the Osun governorship election.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga later disclosed that Tinubu spoke with Governor Adeleke by telephone and informed him that he had directed the EFCC to lift the restriction on the state government’s account.
The fresh court documents have also expanded the scope of the controversy, revealing that the EFCC’s freeze extended beyond the First Bank account to two Zenith Bank joint allocation accounts.
