President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately take steps to vacate the court order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government, citing the need to protect the credibility of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
The directive was contained in a statement issued by the State House on Thursday, in which the President expressed concern over the timing of the anti-graft agency's action, even as he acknowledged that the commission was acting within its legal powers.
According to Tinubu, he was informed that the EFCC obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, authorising the freezing of the state's accounts as part of an investigation into alleged financial impropriety.
While insisting that he was not questioning the commission's statutory authority, the President said the decision to enforce the order just days before the Osun governorship election created an unfortunate public perception.
He noted that actions taken by federal institutions are often seen as reflecting the position of the Presidency, whether or not he was aware of them beforehand.
Tinubu reiterated that since taking office, he had consistently refrained from interfering in the activities of anti-corruption agencies, allowing them to operate independently, professionally and in accordance with the law.
He said his administration remained committed to strengthening democratic institutions and preserving the rule of law through non-interference in the work of investigative and prosecutorial bodies.
However, the President explained that the political sensitivity of the current situation required his intervention to avoid undermining public trust in the electoral process.
He disclosed that although he had not yet received a comprehensive briefing on the facts behind the EFCC's application for the freezing order, the timing of the action was inappropriate given the proximity of the governorship election.
Tinubu stressed that no federal agency should take steps capable of creating the impression that it was being used to influence an electoral contest.
Describing public confidence in the democratic process as paramount, the President directed the EFCC to immediately return to court to lift the freezing order and discontinue the action against the Osun State Government.
The development follows an ongoing disagreement between the Osun State Government and the anti-graft agency over allegations of financial misconduct involving about N11 billion.
The state government has rejected the allegations, insisting it did not misappropriate public funds and accusing the EFCC of attempting to defend an unjustified action.
The commission, on its part, has maintained that its investigation is based on intelligence and evidence of suspected financial crimes, insisting that it acted within the law by securing a court order after initially placing temporary restrictions on the accounts.
The President's intervention comes amid heightened political activities ahead of the Osun governorship election, with concerns in some quarters about the potential impact of government actions on the integrity of the poll.
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