President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately unfreeze the accounts of the Osun State Government.
The President also ordered the anti-graft agency to return to court and vacate the order it obtained to freeze the state government’s accounts.
Tinubu gave the directive amid concerns that the EFCC’s action, coming just days before the Osun State governorship election, could be interpreted as an attempt by the Federal Government to interfere in the poll.
In a statement personally signed by him on Thursday, the President said he was “deeply embarrassed” by the timing of the EFCC’s action.
He clarified that his concern was not with the commission exercising its legal powers but with the timing of the move.
Tinubu said actions taken by federal institutions are often attributed to him as President, even when he may not have been aware of them beforehand.
The EFCC had obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government.
Tinubu said he had not yet been fully briefed on the facts that prompted the commission to approach the court.
However, he maintained that the timing of the action was inappropriate, given that Osun State was only days away from its governorship election.
According to him, nothing should be done to create the impression that the EFCC or any other Federal Government agency is being used to influence the 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.”
The President stressed that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must be allowed to operate independently and within the powers granted to them by law.
He said he had consistently avoided interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC and other investigative agencies because strong and independent institutions are essential to democracy.
Despite this position, Tinubu said the circumstances surrounding the Osun account freeze required his intervention in order to protect public confidence in the electoral process.
He consequently directed the EFCC to immediately approach the court to vacate the freezing order and discontinue any action it had instituted against the Osun State Government in connection with the matter.
The EFCC had earlier explained that it froze the accounts after detecting what it described as unusually large transfers to suspicious corporate accounts.
The commission said the action was part of an ongoing investigation and was not connected to the August 15 Osun governorship election.
The anti-graft agency said it was investigating the alleged fraudulent management of about ₦11 billion in public funds.
However, with the election approaching, Tinubu said the timing of the EFCC’s action could raise concerns about possible federal interference.
The President said his directive was therefore aimed at preserving public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process and ensuring the credibility and fairness of the Osun governorship election.
I can also make the headline more punchy/clickable, such as: “Tinubu Moves to Stop EFCC Action Against Osun Govt Ahead of Election”.
