President Bola Tinubu has directed the EFCC to return to court and vacate the order freezing the Osun State Government’s account, citing concerns over electoral confidence.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to return to court and seek the vacation of the order freezing the Osun State Government’s account.
Tinubu said the timing of the EFCC action, coming days before the August 15 governorship election, could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
The President said he was concerned that the action could create the impression that federal agencies were being used to influence the election.
EFCC HAD FROZEN OSUN ACCOUNT
The EFCC had obtained a court order freezing the Osun State Government’s account as part of an investigation into alleged financial irregularities.
The commission said the investigation involved suspected mismanagement of public funds, with allegations involving about ₦11 billion.
The state government disputed the allegations and challenged the circumstances surrounding the restriction.
TINUBU INTERVENES
Tinubu said he had not been fully briefed on the facts that led the EFCC to approach the court.
He nevertheless expressed concern about the timing of the action because Osun was only days away from its governorship election.
The President therefore directed the EFCC to return to court and discontinue the action against the Osun State Government.
Tinubu said the decision was intended to preserve public confidence in the integrity, credibility and fairness of the democratic process.
ADELEKE TAKES EFCC TO COURT
The presidential intervention came as Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Osun State Government pursued their own legal action over the account restriction.
Adeleke sued the EFCC and First Bank, seeking ₦2 billion in damages and challenging the legality of the freeze.
The simultaneous legal and political developments have intensified debate over the independence of anti-corruption agencies and the role of federal institutions during elections.