Tinubu Directs EFCC to Vacate Osun Account Freeze

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to return to court, seek an order to vacate the freezing of Osun State Government accounts, saying the timing of the action could undermine confidence in the state's forthcoming governorship election.

Tinubu said he was concerned that the EFCC's decision to freeze the accounts only days before the election could create the perception that federal institutions were being used to influence the electoral process. He stressed that his intervention was driven by the need to protect public confidence in the integrity, credibility, fairness of the democratic process.

The President also contacted Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to inform him of the directive, assuring him that the EFCC had been instructed to discontinue the action against the state government.

Tinubu maintained that the EFCC retains its statutory powers to investigate alleged financial crimes, but said government agencies must exercise their powers in ways that do not undermine democratic processes, particularly during an election period.

The EFCC had obtained a court order on August 5 to freeze the accounts, amid an ongoing investigation involving the Osun State Government. The development had triggered criticism from the state government, political parties, other stakeholders ahead of the election.