Just In: Tinubu Orders EFCC To Vacate Court Order Freezing Osun Government Accounts

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately return to court and vacate the order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government, saying the action could undermine public confidence in the democratic process ahead of the state’s governorship election.

The President, in a statement issued by the State House on Thursday, said although the EFCC was acting within its statutory powers, the timing of the action was inappropriate, considering that Osun State is only days away from its governorship election.

“It has come to my notice that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government. 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 stated.

The EFCC had secured the court order as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial infractions involving the Osun State Government. The anti-graft agency had maintained that its actions were lawful, insisting it possesses the authority to temporarily restrict accounts suspected to be linked to financial crimes before obtaining judicial approval for extended restrictions.

Reacting to the development, Tinubu noted that actions taken by federal institutions are often attributed to him as President, whether or not he had prior knowledge of them. He reiterated his longstanding policy of allowing anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies to carry out their constitutional responsibilities independently and without political interference.

According to the President, he has deliberately refrained from interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC and other investigative agencies because of his commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and upholding the rule of law.

However, Tinubu explained that although he was yet to receive a full briefing on the circumstances that led to the court order, the proximity of the August 15 governorship election made it imperative for him to intervene in the public interest.

“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,” he said.

The President stressed that his directive was aimed at preserving the integrity, credibility and fairness of Nigeria’s democratic process, adding that maintaining public confidence in the electoral system was paramount.

Consequently, Tinubu directed the anti-graft agency to immediately approach the court to vacate the freezing order and discontinue all actions it had instituted against the Osun State Government in relation to the matter.

The directive comes amid a growing dispute between the Osun State Government and the EFCC over the freezing of the state’s accounts. While the commission said it was investigating alleged financial misconduct, including claims of misappropriation of about N11 billion, the state government denied any wrongdoing and accused the EFCC of attempting to justify what it described as an unjustified action.

The development is expected to ease political tension in Osun ahead of the August 15 governorship election, as concerns had mounted over the possible implications of the account freeze on governance and the credibility of the electoral process.