President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday distanced the Presidency from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s decision to freeze Osun State Government accounts, and ordered the agency to urgently reverse the action ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
In a statement personally signed in Abuja, Tinubu said he had no prior knowledge of the EFCC’s move, but was compelled to intervene because the timing could be read as federal interference in the electoral process.
The EFCC on Wednesday obtained a court order on August 5, 2026 freezing the state’s First Bank account over allegations of improper handling of about N11 billion in ecology funds, intervention funds and FAAC allocations. The commission placed a Post No Debit instruction on the account.
Tinubu said he was “deeply embarrassed” by when the order was executed. “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,” he stated.
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He restated his policy of non-interference in the operations of anti-graft and law enforcement bodies, noting that he has refrained from directing the EFCC since assuming office to protect institutional independence and the rule of law.
However, he said the closeness of the Osun poll made presidential action necessary. “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 any other agency of the federal government is being used to interfere with the election,” Tinubu said.
He directed the EFCC to immediately approach the court to vacate the order and discontinue proceedings against the Osun State Government, stressing that preserving public confidence in the integrity and fairness of the democratic process is paramount.
