President Bola Tinubu has directed the EFCC to vacate the order freezing Osun State Government accounts, saying the timing could undermine confidence in the August 15 governorship election.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately lift the order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government.
Tinubu said the timing of the EFCC action, coming shortly before the August 15 governorship election, could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
The President’s intervention followed growing controversy over the decision to restrict access to the state government’s accounts.
Tinubu Raises Concern Over Timing
In a statement, Tinubu said he was concerned about the timing of the EFCC’s action, while stressing that he remains committed to allowing government institutions to operate within their constitutional and statutory mandates.
The President said he was yet to receive a full briefing on the facts that led the anti-graft agency to approach the court for the freezing order.
However, he considered the timing of the action inauspicious given the proximity of the Osun governorship election.
EFCC Account Freeze Sparks Political Tension
The EFCC’s decision to freeze the account had triggered a political dispute in Osun, with Governor Ademola Adeleke questioning the legality and timing of the action.
The development came just days before voters in the state are scheduled to choose their governor, increasing concerns among political actors about the potential impact of the restriction on the functioning of the state government.
The EFCC had previously linked its investigation to alleged suspicious financial transactions involving state funds.
Tinubu Seeks Confidence in Election
The President’s decision to intervene reflects concerns that actions by federal institutions during an election period could be interpreted through a political lens.
Tinubu said the government must maintain confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions and ensure that the electoral process is not undermined.
What We Know
- Tinubu directed the EFCC to lift the freezing order.
- The President cited concerns over the timing of the action.
- The decision came shortly before the August 15 Osun governorship election.
- The EFCC had said the account restriction was connected to an ongoing financial investigation.