Tinubu orders EFCC to unfreeze Osun accounts ahead of Guber poll
By Kunle Michael
In a move aimed at safeguarding the credibility of the upcoming Osun State governorship election, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately approach the court to lift the freezing order placed on the state’s bank accounts.
The directive came less than 24 hours after the anti-graft agency secured the court order on August 5, 2026.
The President also spoke by telephone with Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, assuring him that the state’s accounts would be unfrozen as soon as possible.
In a statement issued from the State House, Aso Rock Villa, on Thursday, President Tinubu expressed deep embarrassment over the timing of the EFCC’s action, noting that it came just days before the Osun State governorship election.
While reaffirming his commitment to the independence of law enforcement agencies, the President said the timing of the freezing order could undermine public confidence in the credibility and fairness of the forthcoming election.
“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,” Tinubu said.
“While I am yet to be fully apprised of the facts which informed the action of the EFCC, I am not in the slightest doubt that the timing of the action is inauspicious.”
Tinubu stressed that although he has consistently maintained a non-interference policy to allow anti-corruption agencies to carry out their statutory responsibilities independently, overriding public interest made his intervention necessary to protect the integrity of the democratic process.
“Osun State is only a few days away from its governorship election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to create the impression that the EFCC or any other agency of the Federal Government is being used to interfere with the election,” the statement said.
Following the President’s directive, the EFCC is expected to discontinue its current proceedings against the Osun State Government and immediately take steps to unfreeze the state’s accounts to ensure a level playing field ahead of the election.
