President Bola Ahmed 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, citing concerns over the timing of the action ahead of the state’s governorship election.
In a State House statement issued on Thursday, the President said he became aware that the EFCC had obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, authorising the freezing of the state’s accounts.
Tinubu stressed that while he respects the constitutional independence of anti-corruption agencies and supports their mandate to investigate and prosecute corruption without political interference, he was concerned that the timing of the action could create the perception of federal interference in the forthcoming Osun governorship election.
The President said he was “deeply embarrassed” by the timing of the development, noting that actions taken by federal institutions are often attributed to the Presidency, regardless of whether he had prior knowledge of them.
He reiterated that since assuming office, he has deliberately refrained from interfering in the operations of the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies, maintaining that strong democratic institutions must be allowed to operate independently, professionally, and in accordance with the law.
According to Tinubu, although he had not yet been fully briefed on the facts that informed the EFCC’s application for the court order, the proximity of the governorship election made the timing inappropriate.
“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,” the President said.
To safeguard public confidence in the electoral process, Tinubu directed the anti-graft agency to immediately approach the court to vacate the order and discontinue the action against the Osun State Government relating to the freezing of its accounts.
The President said the directive was issued in the overriding public interest and to preserve the integrity, credibility, and fairness of Nigeria’s democratic process.
The EFCC has yet to issue an official response to the President’s directive.
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