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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Tinubu Meets EFCC Boss, Housing Minister Over Disposal of Seized Houses

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • President Bola Tinubu met with the heads of the EFCC and the Ministry of Housing to discuss the management and disposal of seized houses nationwide.
  • The meeting occurred shortly after Tinubu publicly overruled the EFCC regarding a court order freezing Osun State's accounts before an election.
  • The EFCC had frozen the accounts over alleged N11 billion fraud, but Tinubu cited the timing as an embarrassment and ordered the freeze lifted.

President Bola Tinubu convened a meeting with the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, to discuss the transparent management and disposal of houses seized by the anti-graft agency.

Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olanipekun Ola Olukoyede, and Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the management and disposal of seized houses nationwide, under the rules of transparency and Accountability at the State House, Abuja.

— State House media officeDescribing the purpose and attendees of the meeting.

The high-level discussion, held at the State House in Abuja, focused on ensuring accountability in handling the nation's confiscated properties. This meeting marks a significant engagement between President Tinubu and the EFCC leadership, particularly in the wake of a recent public disagreement.

Just days prior, President Tinubu had publicly rebuked the EFCC over its handling of a court order that froze the accounts of Osun State Government. The EFCC had obtained the order on August 5, 2026, citing an investigation into alleged N11 billion fraud involving ecology funds and other allocations. The state government challenged the freeze, accusing the commission of a politically motivated "witch-hunt."

I was 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.

— President Bola Ahmed TinubuExplaining his reaction to the EFCC's freezing of Osun State accounts.

Tinubu, in a statement he personally signed, expressed his "deep embarrassment" not by the EFCC's mandate or the court order itself, but by the "timing" of the action, which occurred just ten days before the August 15 governorship election. He stated that while he had generally refrained from interfering in the EFCC's operational activities, he could not permit any federal institution to appear to be influencing electoral outcomes. Governor Ademola Adeleke, who was the subject of the election, went on to win his re-election bid.

The commission was accused of conducting an unproven 'witch-hunt' against the state since March.

— State House media officeReporting the Osun State Government's accusation against the EFCC.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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