President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately vacate a court order freezing the Osun State Government’s accounts, citing concerns over the timing of the action ahead of the state’s governorship election.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the President said he became aware that the EFCC had obtained a court order on August 5 freezing the state’s accounts as part of an ongoing investigation. While stressing that he was not opposed to the commission carrying out its statutory responsibilities, Tinubu said the timing of the move was “inauspicious” and risked creating the impression that federal institutions were being used to influence the electoral process.
The President reiterated his commitment to allowing anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies to operate independently without political interference, noting that he had deliberately refrained from directing the operational activities of the EFCC since assuming office.
However, Tinubu said Osun State was only days away from its governorship election and that nothing should be done to undermine public confidence in the credibility and fairness of the democratic process.
He therefore directed the EFCC to immediately return to court to vacate the freezing order and discontinue the action instituted against the Osun State Government in connection with the matter.
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