President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately seek the reversal of a court order that froze the bank accounts of the Osun State Government.
Tinubu expressed displeasure over the timing of the EFCC’s action, noting that it came just days before the state’s governorship election. He emphasized that such moves could create the impression of federal interference in the democratic process.
Following the directive, the President personally contacted Governor Ademola Adeleke to assure him that steps were being taken to unfreeze the accounts. The Osun State Government welcomed the intervention, describing it as a triumph for the rule of law.
Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has filed a ₦2 billion lawsuit against the EFCC, accusing the agency of unlawfully blocking the state’s Federal Statutory Allocation Account. He asked the court to award damages for what he termed “unlawful interference with public funds” and to compel the EFCC to cover litigation costs.
The state government rejected EFCC’s claim that the freeze was linked to alleged diversion of ₦11 billion in ecological and intervention funds, insisting the move was politically motivated.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also criticized the EFCC’s action, calling it an attack on democracy and warning against the use of public institutions as political weapons. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) echoed this sentiment, arguing that Tinubu’s directive undermined the EFCC’s supposed independence.
In response, the EFCC maintained that its decision was lawful, citing provisions of the EFCC Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga clarified that Tinubu was not opposed to the EFCC exercising its mandate but was concerned about the timing. Tinubu reiterated his commitment to allowing anti-corruption agencies to operate independently, stressing that strong institutions are vital for governance and the rule of law.
He added that although he had not been fully briefed on the EFCC’s reasons for seeking the freeze, the proximity to the election made the action inappropriate. “Nothing should suggest that federal agencies are being used to influence the outcome of the Osun election,” Tinubu said.
The President concluded that his intervention was necessary to safeguard public trust in the electoral process, directing the EFCC to withdraw the case and lift the restrictions on Osun State’s accounts.
