Former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s investigation into the state government’s accounts, describing the President’s directive to lift the restriction as illegal.
Oyinlola stated this on Tuesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, while reacting to the controversy surrounding the EFCC’s restriction on the accounts and the subsequent directive by Tinubu for the restriction to be lifted.
The former governor argued that the anti-graft agency was acting within its constitutional and statutory responsibilities by restricting the accounts pending investigation.
“Legally speaking, the EFCC was exercising its constitutional rights and duties. So, for the president to step in, it is illegal,” Oyinlola said.
He maintained that the President should have allowed the EFCC to conclude its investigation before exercising any prerogative that may arise from the outcome of the case.
“When you have given the constitutional right to the body, let them exercise it. When it comes to the point where you exercise your prerogative or mercy, if they have been found guilty and sentenced, then you can exercise your right as the president,” he added.
Oyinlola, who served as governor of Osun State between 1999 and 2003, also rejected claims that the EFCC restriction was intended to prevent the state government from accessing funds for the August 15 governorship election.
“The president doesn’t want the state to have access to funds to execute the election. I don’t think a state fund is meant to execute elections. That is my thought,” he said.
The former governor further argued that the EFCC had no constitutional authority to stop the payment of workers’ salaries through its restriction of the state accounts.
“There is no institutional or constitutional powers for EFCC to stop payment of salaries,” Oyinlola stated.
He also defended the independence of the anti-graft agency, saying the President’s authority does not automatically make every action taken under it legally valid.
“I’m only speaking to you about what is legal. I got called to bar in the year 2012, and I think I know a bit of law too,” he said.
Oyinlola added, “Yes, any words that comes out of the president is law but we cannot say that the action is legal.”
He said allowing the EFCC to carry out its mandate without political interference was necessary to protect the independence of the institution.
“There are some senior advocates that have taken on Mr. President, that you are taking away the independence of that institution. Let them do their job,” he said.
The former governor also questioned why the EFCC restriction was imposed on Osun State, particularly when similar action had not been reported in neighbouring Ekiti State.
“Talking about the EFCC to unblock the account, I think in Ekiti State, there is nothing of such. Why is this now in Osun State that the accounts of the state are being blocked?” Oyinlola asked.
He further urged Nigerians to assess the EFCC’s action based on the commission’s legal mandate and rules rather than political considerations.
“The EFCC thing is outside the purview of those who are not engaged in the operation of EFCC. For us to adjudge whether EFCC was right or wrong, we need to address the objective, and the rules assigned by the Constitution to the operation of EFCC,” he said.
