President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has explained why he ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to unfreeze the Osun State Government’s bank accounts, saying the timing of the agency’s action could create the impression of federal interference in the August 15 governorship election.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Tinubu said he was “deeply embarrassed” by the timing of the court order obtained by the EFCC to freeze the state’s accounts. He, however, stressed that he was not questioning the anti-graft agency’s powers or independence.
“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 said actions taken by federal agencies are often linked to the Presidency, even when he is not aware of them beforehand.
The President also reaffirmed his commitment to the independence of the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies, saying he has consistently allowed them to perform their duties without political interference since assuming office.
“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,” he said.
According to Tinubu, he decided to step into the matter because Osun State is only days away from its governorship election, making the timing of the account freeze a major concern.
“While I am yet to be fully apprised of the facts which informed the action of EFCC in approaching the court to obtain the said order freezing the Osun State Government account, I am not in the slightest doubt that the timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious, and therefore I feel compelled to intervene,” he stated.
Tinubu said nothing should happen that would make Nigerians believe any federal agency is being used to influence the outcome of the Osun governorship election.
“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.
The President said protecting public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process informed his decision to direct the EFCC to reverse the action.
“Based on the foregoing premise, I am duty bound to issue a directive on this issue in consonance with the overriding public interest in preserving public confidence and the integrity, credibility, and fairness of our democratic process,” he added.
Tinubu consequently directed the EFCC to return to court and vacate the order freezing the Osun State Government’s bank accounts.
“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 said.
