President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately vacate a court order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, citing concerns over the timing of the action ahead of the state’s governorship election.
In a personally signed statement issued on Thursday, the President said although the EFCC acted within its statutory powers by obtaining the court order on August 5, 2026, he was “deeply embarrassed” by the timing of the move, noting that actions taken by federal institutions are often attributed to the presidency.
Tinubu reaffirmed his longstanding commitment to allowing anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies to operate independently, without political interference or executive direction.
He said he had deliberately refrained from interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC and other investigative agencies because strong institutions operating within the law are essential to democratic governance and the rule of law.
The President, however, stressed that he had not yet been fully briefed on the circumstances that led the EFCC to seek the freezing order, but maintained that the timing of the action was inappropriate.
According to him, with the Osun governorship election only days away, no action should create the impression that any federal agency is being used to influence or interfere with the electoral process.
Tinubu said preserving public confidence in the integrity, credibility and fairness of Nigeria’s democratic process required immediate intervention.
He therefore directed the EFCC to return to court without delay to vacate the order freezing the Osun State Government’s accounts and discontinue any related legal proceedings against the state.
