President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately return to court and vacate the order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government, citing the need to safeguard public confidence in the democratic process ahead of the state’s governorship election.
In a statement issued by the State House on Thursday, the President said although he supports the EFCC’s statutory mandate to investigate financial crimes, he was concerned about the timing of the agency’s action, coming just days before the August 15 governorship election.
“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,” Tinubu said.
The EFCC had secured the court order as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities involving the Osun State Government.
The anti-graft agency had defended its action, maintaining that it acted within the law and possesses the authority to temporarily restrict accounts suspected to be linked to financial crimes. It also stated that it could freeze such accounts for up to 72 hours before obtaining judicial approval for an extended restriction.
Tinubu, however, noted that actions taken by federal institutions are often perceived by the public as being carried out on the President’s instructions, regardless of whether he had prior knowledge of them.
“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,” he stated.
The President reiterated his longstanding position that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies should be allowed to carry out their constitutional responsibilities independently and without political interference.
“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.
He added that he had deliberately refrained from interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC and other investigative agencies because of his commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and upholding the rule of law.
While acknowledging that he had not yet received a full briefing on the circumstances that informed the EFCC’s decision, Tinubu said the timing of the action warranted intervention.
“While I am yet to be fully apprised of the facts which informed the action of EFCC in approaching the court to obtain the said order freezing the Osun State Government account, I am not in the slightest doubt that the timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious, and therefore I feel compelled to intervene,” he said.
According to the President, the proximity of the governorship election makes it imperative to avoid actions that could create the impression that federal institutions are being used to influence the electoral process.
“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 added.
Tinubu said his directive was issued in the overriding public interest and aimed at preserving the integrity, credibility and fairness of Nigeria’s democratic process.
“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.
“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 statement read.
The development follows a dispute between the Osun State Government and the EFCC over the freezing of the state’s accounts. The state government has denied allegations of misappropriating N11 billion, accusing the commission of attempting to justify its action.
The EFCC, however, has maintained that its investigation is not politically motivated and insisted it is acting strictly within its statutory mandate to investigate and prosecute alleged financial crimes.
The President’s directive comes as political activities intensify ahead of the Osun governorship election, with increased public attention on the role of government institutions in ensuring a transparent and credible electoral process.
