Tinubu Orders EFCC To Lift Freeze On Osun Government Accounts Before Governorship Election

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

In a statement personally signed on Thursday, the President said he was “deeply embarrassed” by the timing of the EFCC’s action, although he acknowledged that the commission obtained the court order lawfully on August 5.

Tinubu stressed that he had no prior knowledge of the move but noted that actions taken by federal institutions are often attributed to the President.

“It has come to my notice that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government. I must state that 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,” he said.

The President reaffirmed his commitment to the independence of anti-corruption agencies, saying he has consistently allowed the EFCC and other law enforcement bodies to carry out their duties without political interference.

However, he said the timing of the action warranted intervention because of the approaching Osun governorship election.

Tinubu warned that no action should create the impression that federal institutions were being used to influence the outcome of the poll.

“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.

The President added that preserving the integrity and credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process informed his decision.

He therefore directed the anti-graft agency to immediately return to court to lift the order and discontinue the action against the Osun State Government.

The directive comes a day after the EFCC defended its decision to freeze the state’s accounts, insisting the move was part of an ongoing investigation and was not intended to influence Saturday’s governorship election.