By Seun Ibiyemi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately return to court to vacate an order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, citing concerns over the timing of the action just days before the state’s governorship election.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the President said he became aware that the EFCC had obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the state government’s accounts and expressed embarrassment over the development, stressing that actions taken by federal institutions are often attributed to him even when he has no prior knowledge of them.
Tinubu reiterated his long-standing position that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must operate independently, professionally and without political interference, noting that he has deliberately refrained from directing or influencing the operational activities of the EFCC and other investigative agencies 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,” the President stated.
He explained that although he had yet to be fully briefed on the circumstances that prompted the EFCC to seek the court order, the timing of the action was inappropriate given the proximity of the Osun State governorship election.
According to Tinubu, no action should create the impression that the EFCC or any other federal agency is being deployed 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 said.
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The President said preserving public confidence in the integrity, credibility and fairness of Nigeria’s democratic process compelled him to intervene.
Consequently, he directed the anti-graft agency to immediately approach the court to vacate the freezing order and discontinue all actions instituted against the Osun State Government in connection with the matter.
The directive marks a rare presidential intervention in an ongoing enforcement action by the EFCC, with Tinubu insisting that his decision was driven solely by the overriding public interest in protecting the credibility of the forthcoming governorship election.
