By Kingston Magare 6.8.2026
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to back off in its quest to freeze an account belonging to the Osun State Government.
The EFCC claimed it was acting according to a court order to freeze the account days to the Osun State governorship elections billed for August 15. President Tinubu said in a statement Thursday that the time is wrong and he is embarrassed.
“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 in the statement.
“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.”
Tinubu added that law enforcement and anti-corruption agents mus be allowed to do their work without fear or favour, or political interference.”
“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,” Tinubu noted.
Tinubu said while he is yet to get the full details about the matter, the “timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious,” and as such, he is compelled to intervene.
“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,” he said.
Osun State governor Ademola Adeleke and his government officials had alleged that Federal agencies had been used to harass them ahead of the election. He said the EFCC froze one of the state’s accounts domiciled with a commercial bank, which is used to settle workers’ salaries.
He also alleged that the anti-graft agency was preparing to freeze the accounts of some top government officials.
“All I ask is for the EFCC chairman to explain to the good people of Osun State and to Nigerians in general why he froze Osun State Government account and show proof to support whatever reason he presents. This and all other illegalities being visited on Osun are turning our democracy into a huge joke,” the governor said.
Governor Adeleke and President Tinubu...