BREAKING: Tinubu orders EFCC to vacate Osun account freeze order

President Bola Tinubu has intervened in the freezing of Osun State Government accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ordering the anti-graft agency to vacate the court order.

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It has come to my notice that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government.

The directive, issued from the State House on Thursday, aims to safeguard public confidence in the democratic process, especially as the state approaches its governorship election. President Tinubu stated that while he does not oppose the EFCC's mandate, he is "deeply embarrassed" by the timing of their action.

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I must state that I feel deeply embarrassed not by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate backed by a court order, but by the timing of the agency’s action.

The EFCC had obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, to freeze the accounts as part of an investigation into alleged financial infractions by the Osun State Government. The commission had previously defended its actions, asserting they were lawful and that it possessed the authority to restrict accounts suspected of involvement in financial crimes, noting its ability to freeze accounts for up to 72 hours without a court order before seeking judicial approval.

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This is so because 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.

President Tinubu emphasized that actions taken by federal institutions are often attributed to him, even without his prior knowledge. He reiterated his commitment, made since assuming office, to allow anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies to operate independently and professionally, free from fear, favor, or political interference. He has deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC and other investigative bodies, believing strongly in the indispensable role of strong, legally-bound democratic institutions for good governance.

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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.