President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately return to court and vacate the order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government ahead of the state’s governorship election.
The President said the directive was issued to safeguard public confidence in the democratic process, stressing that the timing of the commission’s action could create the impression of federal interference in the election.
In a statement released by the State House on Thursday, Tinubu clarified that his concern was not with the EFCC’s legal authority but with when the action was taken.
“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 said.
The EFCC secured the court order while investigating alleged financial infractions involving the Osun State Government.
The anti-graft agency had maintained that its actions were lawful, explaining that it could restrict accounts linked to suspected financial crimes for up to 72 hours before obtaining a court order for an extended freeze.
Tinubu noted that actions taken by federal institutions are often viewed as reflecting the position of the Presidency, regardless of whether he was aware of them beforehand.
“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 said.
He reiterated that his administration has consistently allowed anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies to carry out their statutory 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,” Tinubu stated.
The President added that he had deliberately avoided influencing the operations of the EFCC and other investigative agencies because of his commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law.
Although he said he had yet to receive a full briefing on the circumstances that led to the court order, Tinubu maintained that the timing 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.
With the Osun governorship election only days away, Tinubu said no action should create the perception that any federal agency is 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.
The President described his directive as being in the overriding public interest and necessary to preserve confidence in the credibility and fairness of Nigeria’s democratic process.
He subsequently ordered the commission to immediately approach the court to vacate the freezing order and discontinue the action against the Osun State Government.
The directive follows a dispute between the Osun State Government and the EFCC over the account freeze. The state government has denied allegations of misappropriating ₦11 billion, accusing the commission of attempting to justify its actions, while the EFCC insists its investigation is lawful and not politically motivated.
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