Tinubu Orders EFCC to Unfreeze Osun State Account

President Bola Tinubu directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to return to court to vacate the order freezing the Osun State Government’s bank account, calling the timing of the action embarrassing. He expressed concerns that the EFCC's move could suggest federal institutions were being used to influence the upcoming August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

Tinubu personally informed Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, of this directive, marking a rare intervention in the EFCC's operations, which the presidency claims operates independently. Adeleke's party, Accord, alleged that the freezing of the accounts was part of a broader scheme to manipulate the election outcome.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticized Tinubu's directive, claiming it undermined the EFCC's independence. Adeleke has also filed a lawsuit against the EFCC in the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking N2 billion in damages for the unlawful freezing of the state’s Federal Statutory Allocation Account.