President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to immediately return to court to vacate an order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government, citing concerns over the timing of the action just days before the state’s gubernatorial election.
In a statement issued from the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, Tinubu disclosed that it had come to his notice that the EFCC obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government.
The President said he was not embarrassed by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate, which was backed by a court order, but by the timing of the action, noting that actions taken by federal institutions are often credited to him as President, “even when I may not have had any prior knowledge of the action.”
Tinubu reiterated that since assuming office, he has consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must be allowed to discharge their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally, and without fear, favour, or political interference.
He said he had therefore deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or any other investigative or prosecutorial agency, stressing his belief that strong democratic institutions operating within the law are indispensable to good governance and the rule of law.
“As President, I am committed to allowing institutions of state to function and take any action they consider necessary in the interest of proper governance without the need for any prior approval. Indeed, that is why institutions are set up by law with clearly defined powers,” the statement read.
However, the President said that while he was yet to be fully briefed on the facts that informed the EFCC’s decision to approach the court for the order, he was in no doubt that the timing of the action was inauspicious, compelling him to intervene.
He noted that Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election, stressing that nothing should be done to create the impression that the EFCC, or any other federal government agency, was being used to interfere with the electoral process.
“Based on the foregoing premise, I am duty-bound to issue a directive on this issue in consonance with the overriding public interest in preserving public confidence and the integrity, credibility, and fairness of our democratic process,” Tinubu said.
He therefore directed the EFCC to immediately proceed to court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it had instituted against the Osun State Government in that regard.
The statement was signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and issued from the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on August 6, 2026.
