President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to return to court immediately. The commission should seek an end to the Osun account freeze. He cited concerns about its timing ahead of the state’s governorship election.
According to Punch, Tinubu issued the directive in a State House statement on Thursday. This was a day after the anti-graft agency obtained a court order restricting the Osun State Government’s accounts.
The President said he was not questioning the EFCC’s legal authority or its responsibility to investigate suspected financial offences. However, he expressed concern that the action came only days before residents were due to elect a governor.
“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,” Tinubu said.
“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.”
Tinubu orders end to Osun account freeze
Tinubu said the timing could create the impression that a federal institution was attempting to influence the governorship election.
He noted that the public often attributes the decisions of federal agencies to the President. This happens even when he had no prior knowledge of their actions.
“This is so because every action taken by an institution of state, especially at the federal level, is always credited to me as the President, even when I may not have had any prior knowledge of the action,” he said.
The President maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement institutions must operate independently, professionally and without political interference.
He explained that he had deliberately avoided interfering in the EFCC’s investigations. This was because strong and independent institutions remained essential to democratic governance and the rule of law.
However, Tinubu said the exceptional circumstances surrounding the Osun election required his intervention in the public interest.
Election timing prompts intervention
Tinubu acknowledged that he had not received a complete briefing on the allegations. These allegations prompted the EFCC to approach the court.
He nevertheless described the timing of the account restriction as inappropriate. He also warned that it could damage confidence in the fairness of the electoral process.
“Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election,” he said.
“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.”
Tinubu said his directive aimed to protect the integrity, credibility and fairness of Nigeria’s democratic process.
He subsequently ordered the commission to approach the court. The EFCC must seek the removal of the freeze order and discontinue the related action against the state government.
“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 statement read.
EFCC defends investigation
The EFCC had earlier defended its decision to restrict the state government’s accounts. The anti-graft body insisted that it acted within its legal powers.
The commission said the action formed part of an investigation into the alleged movement of about N11bn in public funds.
It maintained that the investigation was not politically motivated. The commission said financial accounts linked to suspected crimes could be temporarily restricted before further judicial approval was obtained.
The Osun State Government rejected the allegations. It accused the commission of attempting to disrupt its operations shortly before the election.
State officials denied misappropriating the funds and demanded that the EFCC provide evidence supporting its claims.
Although Tinubu has directed the agency to withdraw the immediate action against the accounts, he did not order it to abandon the wider investigation into the alleged financial transactions.
