…President Says EFCC Action Against Osun Inauspicious Ahead Of Poll
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to immediately proceed to court to vacate an order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government and discontinue the action.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 6, 2026, the President said he was embarrassed not by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate, but by the timing of the action coming days to the Osun gubernatorial election.
According to him, every action taken by a federal institution is usually credited to the President, even when he has no prior knowledge of it.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to allowing anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies to operate independently, professionally, and without political interference.
He, however, noted that nothing ought to be done to give the impression that any federal agency is being used to interfere with elections.
“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. I have therefore deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or any other investigative or prosecutorial agency because I firmly believe that strong democratic institutions, operating within the confines of the law, are indispensable to democratic good governance and the rule of law.
“As President, I am committed to allowing institutions of State to function and take any action they consider necessary in the interest of proper governance without the need for any prior approval. Indeed, that is why institutions are set up by law with clearly defined powers. 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.
“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” the President said.
He said the directive was issued in the overriding public interest of preserving public confidence and the integrity of the democratic process.
“Based on the foregoing premise, I am duty-bound to issue a directive on this issue in consonance with the overriding public interest in preserving public confidence and the integrity, credibility, and fairness of our democratic process.
“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.” the statement concluded.
