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, citing the need to protect public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the state’s governorship election.
The directive was contained in a statement issued by the State House on Thursday, in which the President expressed concern over the timing of the anti-graft agency’s action rather than its legal authority to investigate alleged financial crimes.
According to Tinubu, although the EFCC was acting within its statutory powers after obtaining a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the state’s accounts just days before the governorship election could create the impression of political interference.
“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.
Tinubu explained that actions taken by federal institutions are often viewed by the public as reflecting the position of the Presidency, regardless of whether he had prior knowledge of them. He noted that this perception made it necessary for him to intervene in order to safeguard the credibility of the electoral process.
The President reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to allowing anti-corruption agencies and law enforcement institutions to carry out their responsibilities independently and without political interference. He stressed that since assuming office, he has deliberately avoided influencing the operational decisions of agencies such as the EFCC because of his belief in strengthening democratic institutions and upholding the rule of law.
However, Tinubu stated that while he had not yet been fully briefed on the facts that led the EFCC to seek the court order, the proximity of the Osun governorship election made the timing of the action inappropriate.
He warned that no action should create the impression that any federal institution is being used to influence the outcome of an election, emphasizing that preserving public trust in democratic institutions must remain a national priority.
Describing his intervention as being in the overriding public interest, the President said the integrity, fairness, and credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process must be protected at all times.
Consequently, Tinubu directed the EFCC to immediately return to court to vacate the order freezing the Osun State Government’s accounts and discontinue the legal action related to the matter.
The EFCC had secured the court order as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial infractions involving the Osun State Government. The anti-corruption agency had maintained that its actions were lawful and within its statutory mandate, explaining that it has the authority to temporarily restrict access to accounts suspected to be linked to financial crimes before obtaining judicial approval for extended restrictions.
The commission also insisted that its investigation was not politically motivated but was solely aimed at investigating alleged financial misconduct.
The Osun State Government, however, rejected the allegations, denying claims of misappropriating ₦11 billion and accusing the EFCC of attempting to justify the freezing of the state’s accounts.
The President’s directive comes as political activities intensify ahead of the Osun governorship election, with increased attention on the actions of public institutions and the importance of maintaining public confidence in the transparency and fairness of the electoral process.
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