THUR AUG 06 2026-theGBJournal| President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately reverse its legal action that resulted in the freezing of the Osun State Government’s accounts, warning that the move, coming just days before the state’s governorship election, could undermine public confidence in the credibility of the electoral process.
The President said he became aware that the EFCC had obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the Osun State Government’s accounts.
While stressing that he was not questioning the commission’s statutory powers or the court order authorising the action, Tinubu said he was “deeply embarrassed” by the timing of the development because actions taken by federal institutions are often attributed directly to the President, regardless of whether he had prior knowledge of them.
Tinubu reiterated that since assuming office, he has consistently allowed anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies to discharge their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally and without political interference.
He said he had deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or any other investigative or prosecutorial agency because “strong democratic institutions, operating within the confines of the law, are indispensable to democratic good governance and the rule of law.”
The President added that he remained committed to allowing institutions of state to exercise the powers granted to them by law without requiring presidential approval.
However, he said although he was yet to be fully briefed on the circumstances that informed the EFCC’s application to the court, he believed “the timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious,” making presidential intervention necessary.
With Osun State only days away from its governorship election, Tinubu said “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.”
On that basis, the President said he was acting in the overriding public interest to protect public confidence in the integrity, credibility and fairness of the democratic 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.
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