By Emmanuel Thomas I Thursday, August 05, 2026
ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately approach the court to vacate an order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government.
The President’s directive, issued on Thursday from the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, comes just days before the highly anticipated Osun State gubernatorial election.
President Expresses Embarrassment Over Timing
In an official State House statement, President Tinubu expressed deep embarrassment over the timing of the anti-graft agency’s action, noting that federal actions are routinely attributed to the presidency regardless of prior knowledge.
”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,” 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. This is so because every action taken by an institution of State, especially at the Federal level, is always credited to me, as the President, even when I may not have had any prior knowledge of the action.”
Commitment to Institutional Independence
Reaffirming his administration’s stance on anti-corruption agencies, President Tinubu emphasized that he has consistently avoided interfering in operational activities of investigative bodies.
”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,” he added.
However, the President noted that while he was yet to be fully briefed on the specific facts that led to the EFCC’s court application, the political sensitivity of the upcoming state election necessitated executive intervention to protect the credibility of the democratic process.
Highlighting the upcoming Osun State governorship contest, President Tinubu stressed the importance of neutrality and avoiding any perception of federal interference.
”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,” President Tinubu declared.
”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.”
Immediate Withdrawal of Legal Action
Concluding the statement, the President formally instructed the commission to reverse its legal step:
”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 EFCC is expected to file an urgent application before the court to discharge the freezing order in compliance with the presidential directive.