President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take immediate legal steps to lift the court-ordered freeze on the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, saying the move is necessary to safeguard public confidence in the integrity of the forthcoming governorship election.
The President gave the directive in a statement personally signed on Thursday and released by the State House in Abuja, expressing concern that although the anti-graft agency acted within the law, the timing of the action could create an impression of political interference.
Tinubu noted that the EFCC secured the court order on August 5, 2026, but said the development, coming just days before the Osun governorship poll, risked undermining trust in the electoral process.
He explained that his concern was not with the commission’s statutory powers or its anti-corruption mandate, but with the potential impact of the timing on public perception.
According to the President, his administration has consistently upheld the operational independence of anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies, allowing them to perform their constitutional responsibilities without political influence.
He stressed that this commitment remains unchanged, adding that no action by any federal institution should cast doubt on the fairness or credibility of an election.
With the Osun governorship election imminent, Tinubu said every effort must be made to ensure that government institutions are not perceived as influencing the democratic process.
To this end, he directed the EFCC to immediately approach the court to vacate the order freezing the state government’s accounts and discontinue the related legal action.
The President disclosed that although he had not received a comprehensive briefing on the circumstances that led to the commission’s decision, he considered it necessary to intervene in the overriding public interest because of the sensitive electoral period.
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the rule of law, democratic governance and the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, maintaining that protecting public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions remains a priority.
