Bayo Onanuga
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately take steps to vacate a court order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government.
In a statement issued on Thursday through his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, via his verified Facebook page and obtained by TheCasterNews, the President said he became aware that the EFCC had secured the court order on August 5, 2026, to freeze the state’s accounts. While acknowledging the Commission’s statutory powers to carry out its responsibilities independently, President Tinubu expressed concern over the timing of the action.
The President said that although he had no prior knowledge of the EFCC’s move, actions taken by federal institutions are often perceived as having his approval. He reiterated his commitment to allowing anti-corruption agencies to discharge their responsibilities professionally, independently, and without political interference.
Tinubu noted that he has consistently refrained from directing the operational activities of the EFCC or any other investigative agency, stressing that strong democratic institutions must be allowed to function within the provisions of the law.
However, he described the timing of the court order as “inauspicious,” noting that Osun State is only a few days away from its governorship election. He warned that such an action could create the impression that the EFCC or other federal agencies were being used to interfere in the electoral process.
According to the President, preserving public confidence in the integrity, credibility, and fairness of Nigeria’s democratic process remains paramount.
Consequently, Tinubu directed the EFCC to immediately approach the court to vacate the freezing order and discontinue all legal actions instituted against the Osun State Government in the matter.
The directive was issued from the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, August 6, 2026.
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