President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately take legal steps to vacate the court order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, citing concerns over the timing of the action ahead of the State’s governorship election.
The presidential directive comes amid widespread public debate and political reactions following the EFCC’s decision to secure a court order freezing the State’s accounts just days before Osun residents head to the polls.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to allowing anti-corruption agencies to perform their constitutional duties independently. However, he said the circumstances surrounding the latest EFCC action required intervention in the overriding public interest to protect confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
According to the President, one of the guiding principles of his administration has been to strengthen institutions by allowing them to discharge their statutory responsibilities without political interference. Since assuming office, he said he has deliberately avoided directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC and other investigative agencies because strong democratic institutions are essential to good governance and the rule of law.
Tinubu stressed that anti-corruption agencies must remain free to investigate allegations of financial misconduct wherever they arise, provided such actions are carried out professionally, fairly and within the law.
Despite this position, the President expressed concern over the timing of the EFCC’s move against the Osun State Government.
He explained that although he had not yet received a full briefing on the facts that informed the Commission’s application for the freezing order, the development occurred at a politically sensitive period with the Osun governorship election only days away.
Tinubu noted that actions taken by federal institutions are often perceived by the public as reflecting the position of the Presidency, even when the President has no prior knowledge of such decisions.
He said he was not embarrassed by the EFCC’s exercise of its lawful powers through a court order but believed the timing of the action could create the impression that the Federal Government was attempting to influence the outcome of the election.
The President warned that no federal institution should undertake actions capable of undermining public confidence in the credibility, neutrality and fairness of Nigeria’s electoral process.
According to him, preserving the integrity of elections remains a priority, and every Government agency must conduct its activities in a manner that strengthens rather than weakens public trust in democracy.
Tinubu therefore directed the EFCC to immediately return to court and seek an order vacating the freezing of the Osun State Government’s accounts.
He also instructed the anti-graft agency to discontinue every legal action it initiated against the State Government concerning the account freeze.
The directive is expected to pave the way for the immediate restoration of the State’s access to its financial accounts before the governorship election.
The President reiterated that his administration remains committed to supporting independent institutions while ensuring that their actions do not raise unnecessary political concerns or cast doubt on the credibility of democratic processes.
He maintained that accountability and the fight against corruption remain central to his administration but added that these objectives must always be pursued in a manner consistent with fairness, due process and the national interest.
The EFCC’s decision to freeze the Osun State Government’s accounts had generated widespread criticism from political stakeholders, civil society groups and opposition figures, many of whom questioned why the action was taken so close to the governorship election.
Several observers argued that regardless of the legal basis for the court order, the timing risked heightening political tension and creating perceptions of federal interference in the electoral process.
The Presidency’s intervention is therefore being viewed as an effort to reassure Nigerians that federal institutions will not be used to influence elections and that all contestants will compete on a level playing field.
Political analysts also believe the directive reinforces Tinubu’s repeated pledge to strengthen institutions while ensuring their operations do not undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
With campaigns entering their final stages ahead of the Osun governorship election, attention is now expected to shift back to the political contest itself as the EFCC moves to comply with the President’s directive.
The Commission’s next legal steps will determine how quickly the court order is vacated and when the Osun State Government will regain full access to its accounts before voters head to the polls.