President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to immediately vacate a court order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government and discontinue all actions instituted against the state.
In a statement issued on August 6, 2026 from Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said he was informed that the EFCC obtained the court order on August 5, 2026. He noted that while he was not embarrassed by the EFCC exercising its statutory mandate, he was concerned about the timing of the action coming just days to Osun’s governorship election.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s policy of non-interference in anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies. “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 stated.
He explained that he has deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or any prosecutorial agency because strong democratic institutions operating within the law are indispensable to good governance and the rule of law. The President added that he is yet to be fully briefed on the facts that informed the EFCC’s application to the court.
However, Tinubu said the timing of the freeze was “inauspicious” and could create an impression that a federal agency was being used to interfere with the electoral process in Osun State. “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.
Citing overriding public interest in preserving confidence in the democratic process, the President said he was duty-bound to intervene. “Based on the foregoing premise, 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 directed.
The President concluded the statement by reaffirming his commitment to institutional independence while also safeguarding the integrity, credibility and fairness of Nigeria’s democratic process. “Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, read.
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