Tinubu orders EFCC to vacate freeze order on Osun state accounts

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

He said although he supports the EFCC’s constitutional mandate to investigate financial crimes, the timing of the agency’s action was inappropriate, given that Osun State is only days away from its governorship election.

In a statement made available to Newsmen by the State House on Thursday, President Tinubu expressed concern that actions taken by federal institutions are often perceived as having his direct approval, regardless of whether he was aware of them.
“It has come to my notice that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 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.

Hev maintained that since assuming office, he had deliberately refrained from interfering in the operations of anti-corruption agencies, insisting that they should function independently, professionally and without political influence.
“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.
The President noted that although he had yet to receive a full briefing on the circumstances that prompted the EFCC to obtain the court order, the proximity of the governorship election made intervention necessary.
“While I am yet to be fully apprised of the facts which informed the action of EFCC in approaching the court to obtain the said order freezing the Osun State Government account, I am not in the slightest doubt that the timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious, and therefore I feel compelled to intervene,” he said.
According to Tinubu, no action by any federal institution should create the impression that the Federal Government is attempting to influence the outcome of the election.
“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 added.
Consequently, the President directed the anti-graft agency to reverse the action immediately.
“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 statement read.
The EFCC had secured the court order as part of an investigation into alleged financial infractions involving the Osun State Government. The commission had defended its action, insisting it acted within the law and that it possesses statutory powers to temporarily freeze accounts suspected to be linked to financial crimes before obtaining judicial approval for extended restrictions.

The Osun State Government, rejected allegations of financial misconduct, including claims of misappropriating ₦11 billion, accusing the commission of attempting to justify its decision to freeze the state’s accounts.