President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately approach the court to vacate the order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government.
The President said he was concerned about the timing of the action, coming just days before the state’s governorship election, stressing that no federal institution should take steps capable of creating the impression of interference in the democratic process.
He also spoke with Governor Ademola Adeleke to personally inform him of the directive.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to the independence of anti-corruption agencies, noting that he had consistently refrained from interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC and other law enforcement bodies.
However, he explained that although he had not been fully briefed on the circumstances surrounding the freezing order, the timing was inappropriate and could undermine public confidence in the integrity and credibility of the forthcoming Osun governorship election.
The directive followed widespread controversy over the EFCC’s decision to secure a court order freezing one of the Osun State Government’s bank accounts over allegations involving the diversion of about N11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.
While the EFCC maintained that the temporary restriction was lawful and backed by the EFCC Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, the Osun State Government rejected the allegations, describing the action as politically motivated.
Governor Adeleke has also filed a N2 billion lawsuit against the EFCC, challenging what he described as the unlawful freezing of the state’s Federal Statutory Allocation Account.
The governor is seeking exemplary and aggravated damages for the alleged unlawful interference with public funds, as well as an order compelling the commission to pay the cost of the litigation.
Following the President’s intervention, the Osun State Government welcomed the directive, describing it as a victory for the rule of law.
The development has continued to generate mixed reactions across the political landscape. Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, described the EFCC’s action as an assault on democracy, warning against the use of public institutions as political weapons.
The ADC also argued that President Tinubu’s directive undermined claims of the EFCC’s independence, while the party’s House of Assembly candidate for Eti-Osa Constituency II in Lagos, Ayodele Adio, criticised the Presidency’s announcement, describing it as misleading and legally untenable.
The EFCC, however, has maintained that its actions were lawful and carried out in accordance with its statutory mandate.
