Osun account: Adebayo backs EFCC chairman, blames Tinubu

Prince Adewole Adebayo, a presidential hopeful for Nigeria's Social Democratic Party (SDP), has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu's administration regarding the controversial freezing and subsequent unfreezing of Osun State Government accounts. Adebayo contends that President Tinubu bears responsibility for the controversy, not the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede.

Adebayo stated that the EFCC chairman acted within his legal authority by obtaining a court order to freeze the accounts under investigation. He argued that President Tinubu's directive to vacate this court-backed action constituted a significant breach of the rule of law and undermined the independence of law enforcement institutions. Therefore, Adebayo believes Tinubu, rather than the EFCC chairman, should resign.

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If EFCC wrongly froze the account of Osun State Government, there are legal remedies that could be taken to unfreeze it, including getting damages against EFCC.

Speaking at the SDP National Secretariat in Abuja, Adebayo emphasized the need for law enforcement agencies, including the EFCC, police, and other security services, to operate freely within the bounds of the law. He asserted that if the Osun State Government felt its accounts were wrongly frozen, it possessed legal avenues to challenge the decision in court. Blaming the EFCC chairman for exercising powers granted by law and overseen by the judiciary, he argued, is misplaced.

"If EFCC wrongly froze the account of Osun State Government, there are legal remedies that could be taken to unfreeze it, including getting damages against EFCC," Adebayo explained. He also criticized the overall leadership quality under the Tinubu administration, urging Nigerians to prioritize accountability over targeting officials leading government institutions. Adebayo believes the EFCC chairman is attempting to do his job effectively, making him an unsuitable target for blame in this situation.

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The only person who is at fault here is the President himself. Because EFCC is a very difficult place to work.