In a move aimed at safeguarding the credibility of the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately seek the reversal of a court order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government.
The President said the directive became necessary to prevent any perception that federal institutions were being deployed to influence the electoral process in the state, which is only days away from going to the polls.
In a State House statement, Tinubu disclosed that although the EFCC acted within its statutory powers by obtaining the court order on August 5, the timing of the action was inappropriate and capable of undermining public confidence in the neutrality of the Federal Government.
“It has come to my attention that the EFCC obtained a court order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government. While I respect the Commission’s legal mandate, I am deeply concerned about the timing of the action,” the President said.
Tinubu stressed that every action taken by federal institutions is often interpreted by Nigerians as reflecting the position of the Presidency, regardless of whether he had prior knowledge of such decisions.
He reaffirmed that since assuming office, he has deliberately refrained from interfering in the operations of anti-corruption agencies, insisting that institutions such as the EFCC must remain independent and operate strictly within the law.
According to him, preserving the integrity of democratic institutions sometimes requires ensuring that lawful actions do not inadvertently create doubts about the fairness of the electoral process.
With the Osun governorship election fast approaching, the President said no action by any federal agency should give room for allegations that the machinery of government is being used to intimidate political actors or tilt the electoral playing field.
Consequently, Tinubu directed the anti-graft agency to return to court without delay to vacate the order freezing the state’s accounts and discontinue all proceedings connected with the action.
He maintained that the directive should not be interpreted as weakening the administration’s resolve to combat corruption but as a demonstration of its commitment to credible elections, due process and democratic accountability.
The President reiterated that the fight against corruption remains a cornerstone of his administration but added that the independence of anti-corruption agencies must always be balanced with the imperative of protecting public trust in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The development comes amid heightened political activities in Osun State ahead of the governorship election, with attention now expected to shift to the EFCC’s response to the presidential directive.