President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately return to court and vacate the order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, saying the action is necessary to preserve public confidence in the integrity of the forthcoming governorship election.
The directive followed widespread public reactions to the anti-graft agency’s decision to obtain a court order restricting operations on the state’s accounts as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged handling of about ₦11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency on Thursday, August 6, 2026, President Tinubu expressed concern over the timing of the EFCC’s action, noting that although the Commission has the constitutional responsibility to investigate allegations of financial misconduct, its intervention at this stage could create an impression of political interference.
The President said he became aware that the EFCC secured the court order on Wednesday, August 5, but maintained that the timing was capable of undermining public trust in the electoral process.
“I feel deeply embarrassed, not by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate backed by a court order, but by the timing of the agency’s action,” President Tinubu said.
He stressed that with the Osun governorship election only days away, every institution of government must act in a manner that strengthens, rather than weakens, confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
According to the President, no federal agency should create the impression that it is being deployed to influence the outcome of an election or interfere with the democratic choice of the people.
While reaffirming his commitment to the operational independence of the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies, Tinubu said the overriding national interest requires that the credibility of the electoral process be protected at all times.
He therefore directed the Commission to immediately take the necessary legal steps to vacate the freezing order and discontinue the action against the Osun State Government.
“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,” the President stated.
The development comes barely a day after the EFCC defended its decision to freeze the state’s accounts, saying it had been investigating the Osun State Government since March 2026 over allegations involving approximately ₦11 billion in public funds.
The Commission had explained that although the investigation had been ongoing for months, it decided to obtain a Post No Debit (PND) order after allegedly detecting what it described as suspicious transfers from government accounts into several corporate accounts beginning on August 2, 2026.
According to the EFCC, the restriction was imposed solely to safeguard public funds pending the conclusion of its investigation and was not connected to the forthcoming governorship election.
President Tinubu’s directive is expected to ease political tension surrounding the controversy, which has dominated public discourse in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship poll.
