President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately take steps to vacate a court order freezing the Osun State Government’s bank accounts, saying the timing of the action could undermine public confidence in the forthcoming governorship election.
In a statement dated 6 August 2026, the President said he became aware that the EFCC had obtained a court order on 5 August to freeze the state’s accounts. While stressing that he supports the independence of anti-corruption agencies, Tinubu said he was concerned about the timing of the action, given that Osun is only days away from its governorship election.
The President said every action taken by federal institutions is often attributed to him, regardless of whether he had prior knowledge of it, adding that he had consistently refrained from interfering in the operations of the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies.
Tinubu reiterated that his administration remains committed to allowing anti-corruption institutions to carry out their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally and without political interference.
However, he said the decision to freeze the Osun State Government’s accounts so close to the election could create the impression that a federal agency was being used to influence the electoral process.
According to the President, preserving public confidence in the integrity and fairness of Nigeria’s democratic process is of overriding importance.
He said that although he had not yet been fully briefed on the circumstances that led the EFCC to obtain the court order, the timing of the move was “inauspicious” and warranted presidential intervention.
Tinubu therefore directed the EFCC to immediately return to court to vacate the freezing order and discontinue the action against the Osun State Government.
The directive comes amid heightened political tension ahead of the Osun governorship election, with opposition parties and stakeholders closely monitoring developments involving the state’s finances and federal institutions.
About The Author
