By Emmanuel Thomas l Friday, August 07,2026
ASO ROCK VILLA, Abuja – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately halt all legal actions against the Osun State Government and move to vacate a court order freezing the state’s bank accounts.
The President’s directive came barely 24 hours after the anti-graft agency obtained an order on August 5, 2026, freezing the state’s financial accounts.
In a formal statement issued from the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, President Tinubu expressed deep embarrassment over the timing of the agency’s action, warning that it risks compromising public confidence in the nation’s democratic processes as Osun State prepares for its off-cycle governorship election.
While acknowledging the statutory powers of anti-graft agencies, President Tinubu stressed that the proximity of the EFCC’s legal action to the upcoming poll created an undesirable impression of federal interference in the state 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,” 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
Reiterating his administration’s position on institutional autonomy, President Tinubu clarified that he has consistently refrained from meddling in the operational activities of law enforcement agencies since assuming office.
”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,” Tinubu said. “I have therefore deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or any other investigative or prosecutorial agency because I firmly believe that strong democratic institutions, operating within the confines of the law, are indispensable to democratic good governance and the rule of law.”
He added: “As President, I am committed to allowing institutions of State to function and take any action they consider necessary in the interest of proper governance without the need for any prior approval. Indeed, that is why institutions are set up by law with clearly defined powers.”
Public Interest and Democratic Integrity
Despite reaffirming his respect for institutional independence, President Tinubu highlighted that the political context in Osun State necessitated presidential intervention to safeguard the credibility of the upcoming governorship election.
”While I am yet to be fully apprised of the facts which informed the action of EFCC in approaching the court to obtain the said order freezing the Osun State Government account, I am not in the slightest doubt that the timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious, and therefore I feel compelled to intervene,” he declared.
”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.”
Concluding his address, the President noted that his directive was motivated strictly by the overriding need to preserve public trust in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
”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.”
”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. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the President stated.
Following the presidential directive, the EFCC is expected to file an application before the court to vacate the freezing order with immediate effect.
