Days ahead of the Osun State governorship election, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately lift a court order freezing the state government’s bank accounts.
The directive comes amidst an escalating dispute between state officials and the anti-graft body. The Osun State Government had previously rejected allegations of misappropriating ₦11 billion, denying any financial misconduct. For its part, the EFCC maintained that its investigation was non-political, reiterating its legal authority to restrict suspect accounts for up to 72 hours before seeking judicial backing.
In a State House statement released on Thursday, President Tinubu expressed concern over the political ramifications, noting that Osun State is only days away from its gubernatorial election.
While affirming his commitment to institutional independence and non-interference in anti-corruption matters, he stressed that public perception made his intervention necessary.
Explaining his reaction to the court order obtained by the EFCC on 5 August 2026, the President stated:
“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…”
President Tinubu pointed out that actions taken by federal agencies are inevitably attributed to his administration, regardless of whether he had prior awareness. While admitting he had not received a full briefing on the specifics of the investigation, he argued that nothing should be allowed to signal federal interference in an upcoming vote.
Tinubu noted that “…the timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious, and therefore I feel compelled to intervene…”
Emphasising the need to safeguard public trust and protect the credibility of the democratic process, President Tinubu confirmed that he had ordered the anti-graft agency to halt the proceedings.
The president concluded the statement by instructing: “…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.”