Why Tinubu Ordered EFCC to Vacate Court Order Freezing Osun Accounts

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately return to court to v...

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

The directive was contained in a statement personally signed by the President and issued on Thursday.

According to the statement, President Tinubu said he became aware that the EFCC had obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government.

The President said that although he respected the EFCC's statutory powers and had consistently allowed anti-corruption agencies to operate independently, he was "deeply embarrassed" by the timing of the action because the public could attribute it to his administration.

Tinubu stated that since assuming office, he had deliberately refrained from interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC and other investigative agencies, insisting that democratic institutions must be allowed to perform their lawful responsibilities without fear, favour or political interference.

According to the statement, the President said he had not been fully briefed on the circumstances that led the EFCC to obtain the court order but believed the timing was "inauspicious," particularly as Osun State is only days away from its governorship election.

He said nothing should be done to create the impression that the EFCC or any other Federal Government agency was being used to influence the electoral process.

The President explained that his decision to intervene was driven by the overriding public interest in preserving public confidence and safeguarding the integrity, credibility and fairness of Nigeria's democratic process.

According to the statement, Tinubu subsequently directed the EFCC to immediately approach the court to vacate the order and discontinue all actions it had instituted against the Osun State Government in relation to the freezing of its accounts.

The President reiterated his commitment to strengthening democratic institutions while ensuring that their actions do not undermine public trust in the country's electoral process.