President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately return to court to vacate the order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government.
The President announced the directive in a State House statement issued on Thursday, August 6, 2026.
He said he was deeply embarrassed by the timing of the EFCC’s action, despite acknowledging that the anti-graft agency acted within its legal mandate after obtaining the court order on August 5, 2026.
Tinubu expresses concern over timing
In the statement, Tinubu said: “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 added that actions taken by federal institutions are often credited to him, even when he has no prior knowledge of them.
“Every action taken by an institution of State, especially at the Federal level, is always credited to me, as the President, even when I may not have had any prior knowledge of the action.”
President reaffirms EFCC’s independence
Tinubu stressed that since assuming office, he has deliberately allowed anti-corruption agencies to perform their statutory responsibilities without interference.
“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 also said he firmly believes that strong democratic institutions operating within the law are essential for good governance and the rule of law.
Concern over Osun governorship election
Although he said he had not yet been fully briefed on the reasons behind the EFCC’s action, Tinubu maintained that the timing was inappropriate because of the approaching governorship election.
“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 further stated: “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.”
Tinubu directs EFCC to vacate order
The President said the overriding public interest in preserving confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process informed his decision.
He concluded by ordering the EFCC to withdraw the court order and halt the case 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.”
STATEHOUSE STATEMENT
PRESIDENT TINUBU DIRECTS EFCC TO VACATE THE COURT ORDER FREEZING OSUN GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT
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… pic.twitter.com/ncR6BYbk0a
— Bayo Onanuga, OON, CON (@aonanuga1956) August 6, 2026
