President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately seek a court order vacating the freezing of an Osun State Government bank account, saying the timing of the action could undermine public confidence ahead of the state’s governorship election.
In a statement personally signed, the President said he was “deeply embarrassed” by the timing of the anti-graft agency’s move, stressing that although the EFCC acted under a court order, the decision could be perceived as federal interference in the electoral process.
“Accordingly, I have directed the EFCC to immediately proceed to the court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government in this regard,” Tinubu said.
The President explained that he intervened because actions taken by federal institutions are often attributed directly to him, even when he has no prior knowledge of them.
He reiterated his long-standing position of allowing anti-corruption agencies to operate independently without political interference.
“I have consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must be allowed to discharge their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally, without fear or favour, or political interference,” he said.
However, Tinubu said the timing of the EFCC’s action was “inauspicious”, noting that Osun State is only days away from its governorship election.
“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,” he added.
The controversy began after Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke alleged that the EFCC placed one of the state’s commercial bank accounts on a “Post No Debit” restriction, preventing access to funds used for workers’ salaries.
Adeleke also claimed the commission was planning to freeze accounts belonging to senior government officials.
“All I ask is for the EFCC chairman to explain to the good people of Osun State and to Nigerians in general why he froze Osun State Government account and show proof to support whatever reason he presents,” the governor said.
The governor described the agency’s actions as illegal and warned they risked undermining Nigeria’s democracy.
The EFCC, however, defended its decision, saying it detected suspicious transactions involving large transfers from the account into several corporate entities.
According to the commission, freezing the account was a preventive measure aimed at protecting public funds.
“The Commission noticed huge transfers of funds into different corporate entities and had to swiftly halt the trend by freezing the accounts from which such heavy funds are being moved,” the agency said.
The anti-graft commission maintained that its constitutional responsibility to safeguard public resources could not be suspended because of an approaching election.
“It will be uncharitable for the Commission to allow an excuse of an upcoming election to fold its arms to perform its legally assigned functions,” the EFCC said.
The development has sparked political debate, with opposition figures accusing the Federal Government of targeting the Osun administration ahead of the governorship poll, while the EFCC insists its actions were guided solely by its anti-corruption mandate.
