President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately take steps to vacate the court order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, citing concerns over the timing of the action ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state.
In a statement issued from the State House on Wednesday, the President said he became aware that the EFCC had obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government. He stressed that although the anti-graft agency acted within its statutory mandate and secured a court order, the development had created an unfortunate public perception capable of undermining confidence in the electoral process.
Tinubu said he felt “deeply embarrassed” not by the EFCC’s exercise of its legal powers, but by the timing of the action, noting that Nigerians often attribute actions taken by federal institutions to the President, even when he may not have had prior knowledge of them.
The President reiterated that since assuming office, he has consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies should be allowed to perform their constitutional responsibilities independently, professionally, and without political interference.
According to him, he has deliberately refrained from interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC and other investigative agencies because he believes that strong democratic institutions operating within the law are essential to good governance and the rule of law.
Tinubu explained that institutions created by law possess clearly defined powers and should ordinarily function without requiring presidential approval before carrying out their duties.
However, he said that while he had yet to receive a full briefing on the facts that informed the EFCC’s decision to seek the freezing order, he was convinced that the timing of the action was inappropriate and had compelled him to intervene in the public interest.
The President noted that Osun State is only a few days away from its governorship election and warned that no action by any federal agency should create the impression that the Federal Government is attempting to influence or interfere with the electoral process.
“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,” the statement said.
Tinubu said preserving public confidence in democratic institutions and protecting the integrity, credibility, fairness, and transparency of the electoral process were constitutional responsibilities that must take precedence over any action capable of generating suspicion or political tension.
He accordingly directed the EFCC to proceed immediately to court to vacate the freezing order and discontinue whatever proceedings or actions it had instituted against the Osun State Government in relation to the affected accounts.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the independence of anti-corruption agencies while insisting that their actions must not inadvertently undermine democratic stability or electoral credibility.
Tinubu also restated his commitment to free, fair, and credible elections, assuring Nigerians that no institution of the Federal Government would be allowed to take actions capable of casting doubt on the neutrality of the electoral environment.
He urged political actors, institutions, and stakeholders to conduct themselves responsibly in the period leading to the Osun governorship election, stressing that democracy thrives only when citizens are confident that electoral contests are conducted on a level playing field.
The President further assured the people of Osun State that the Federal Government would continue to uphold constitutionalism, the rule of law, and the independence of democratic institutions while safeguarding the sanctity of the ballot.
Tinubu expressed confidence that the appropriate legal steps would be taken promptly in compliance with his directive and wished the people of Osun State a peaceful, orderly, and credible election.
The development followed earlier concerns raised by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who had alleged that there were plans to freeze the accounts of the state government ahead of the election. The EFCC’s directive to First Bank to place a Post-No-Debit restriction on the state’s statutory allocation account had sparked controversy and heightened political tension in the state.
With the President’s latest intervention, attention is expected to shift to the EFCC and the court processes required to reverse the freezing order before the governorship poll.
