President Tinubu Directs EFCC To Vacate Court Order Freezing Osun Govt Account

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to immediately proceed to court to vacate the order freezing the Osun State Government account.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the President said he noted that the EFCC obtained the court order on August 5, 2026.

He expressed concern about the timing of the action, given that Osun State is days away from its governorship election.

President Tinubu stated that while he supports anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies discharging their statutory responsibilities independently and professionally, the timing of the EFCC’s action could create an impression of interference in the electoral process.

“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 said.

He added that he has deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or any other investigative or prosecutorial agency, noting that strong democratic institutions operating within the law are indispensable to good governance and the rule of law.

“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,” he said.

The President said he was yet to be fully briefed on the facts that informed the EFCC’s application to the court. However, he stated that the timing was “inauspicious” and that intervention was necessary to preserve public confidence in the democratic process.

“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 stated.

Based on these considerations, President Tinubu said he was “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,” he said.

The statement concluded with: “Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”