President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to immediately approach the court to vacate the order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, saying the timing of the action could undermine public confidence in the forthcoming governorship election.
The directive was contained in a statement personally signed by the President on Thursday and released by the State House, Abuja.
Tinubu said although the anti-graft agency acted within its statutory powers by obtaining the court order on August 5, 2026, he was uncomfortable with the timing of the action, stressing that it could create the impression that the Federal Government was interfering in the electoral process.
“It has come to my notice that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 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 reiterated his commitment to the independence of anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies, noting that he had consistently refrained from interfering in their operational activities since assuming office.
He said, “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, however, noted that with the Osun governorship election only days away, the EFCC’s action could fuel allegations of political interference.
“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 stated.
Tinubu said preserving public confidence in the integrity and credibility of the democratic process informed his intervention.
“Accordingly, I have directed the EFCC to immediately proceed to the court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government in this regard,” the President added.
He also disclosed that while he had yet to be fully briefed on the circumstances that informed the EFCC’s decision to obtain the court order, he considered the timing “inauspicious” and necessary to intervene in the overriding public interest.
The President concluded the statement by reaffirming his commitment to democratic governance and the rule of law.
