Tinubu Orders EFCC to Unfreeze Osun Govt Accounts, Says Timing ‘Embarrassing’

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu Orders EFCC to Unfreeze Osun Govt Accounts, Says Timing ‘Embarrassing’

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately vacate the court order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, describing the timing of the action as “deeply embarrassing” and capable of undermining confidence in the state’s forthcoming governorship election.

In a personally signed statement issued on Thursday, the President said he became aware that the EFCC had obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government. While he did not question the EFCC’s legal powers or operational independence, he expressed strong reservations about the timing of the action. “I must state that 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,” Tinubu said. He explained that every action taken by a federal institution is often attributed to him as President, regardless of whether he had prior knowledge of such action.

The President reaffirmed his long-standing policy of allowing anti-corruption agencies and other law enforcement institutions to operate independently, professionally and without political interference. “Since assuming office, 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,” Tinubu said. He noted that he had deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC and other investigative agencies because he believes that strong democratic institutions operating within the rule of law are essential to good governance.

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Tinubu explained that although he was yet to receive a full briefing on the circumstances that prompted the EFCC to seek the court order, the proximity of the action to the Osun governorship election necessitated presidential intervention. “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 stated. He said preserving public confidence in the integrity, credibility and fairness of the democratic process outweighed every other consideration. “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 added.

The EFCC had earlier defended its decision to freeze the account, stating that the action was triggered by suspicious movement of funds amid an ongoing investigation into the alleged fraudulent handling of about N11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds, and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations. The commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, explained that the restriction was placed on a single account, not all accounts of the Osun State Government. He noted that the EFCC has the legal authority under Section 34 of the EFCC Act and Section 7, Subsection 6 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2022 to impose a temporary restriction for up to 72 hours before seeking a court order. “The restriction order can last within 72 hours before we can come with a court order if we need to provide a court order,” Uwujaren said. He maintained that the action was not politically motivated despite the timing ahead of the Osun governorship election.

The President ordered the anti-graft agency to immediately return to court to vacate the freezing order and discontinue all proceedings instituted against the Osun State Government in relation to the matter. “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,” the President said. The directive follows widespread reactions to the freezing of the Osun State Government’s accounts, with opposition parties, lawyers and civil society organisations expressing concern that the move could affect governance and raise questions about political interference ahead of the governorship election. The Osun State governorship election is scheduled to hold on August 15, 2026, making the controversy over the account freeze a major issue in the political landscape of the state.