President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to immediately approach the court to vacate an order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government.
The President, in a statement issued on Thursday, said he was concerned about the timing of the EFCC’s action, coming just days before the Osun State governorship election.
President Tinubu said while he supports the independence of law enforcement agencies to carry out their statutory responsibilities without interference, actions taken by federal institutions are often associated with the Presidency, even when he had no prior knowledge of them.
According to the statement, “I feel deeply embarrassed not by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate backed by a court order, but by the timing of the agency’s action.”
The President reiterated his commitment to allowing anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies to operate independently, professionally and within the confines of the law.
He, however, expressed concern that the EFCC’s action could create the perception that the Federal Government was attempting to influence the electoral process in Osun State.
“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,” Tinubu said.
The President explained that his directive was based on the need to protect public confidence and uphold the integrity, credibility and fairness of Nigeria’s democratic process.
He added that he was yet to be fully briefed on the facts that informed the EFCC’s decision to seek the court order but felt compelled to intervene because of the circumstances surrounding the matter.
President Tinubu has therefore instructed the anti-graft agency to discontinue the action against the Osun State Government and take steps to have the court order withdrawn.
The Osun State governorship election is scheduled to hold on August 15 2026.
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Editor: Terverr Tyav
