Segun Atanda/
ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately return to court to vacate an order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, saying the timing of the action could undermine public confidence in the forthcoming governorship election.
In a personally signed statement issued from the State House on Thursday, the President expressed concern over the EFCC’s decision to secure the court order on August 5, just days before the governorship election in Osun State.
Although Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to the independence of anti-corruption agencies, he said he felt “deeply embarrassed” by the timing of the commission’s action because Nigerians often attribute the actions of federal institutions directly to the Presidency, regardless of whether he had prior knowledge of them.
The President stressed that since assuming office, he has deliberately avoided interfering in the operations of the EFCC and other investigative agencies, insisting that democratic institutions must be allowed to carry out their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally and without political interference.
He noted that he had not yet been fully briefed on the circumstances that prompted the EFCC to obtain the freezing order but maintained that the timing was “inauspicious” and warranted presidential intervention.
Tinubu warned that with the Osun governorship election only days away, no action should create the impression that any federal institution was being used to influence or interfere with the electoral process.
According to him, preserving public confidence in the integrity, credibility and fairness of Nigeria’s democratic system outweighs every other consideration at this critical period.
“Nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the federal government is being used to interfere with the election,” the President stated.
Consequently, Tinubu directed the EFCC to immediately approach the court to vacate the freezing order and discontinue all actions relating to the matter against the Osun State Government.
The directive marks a rare public intervention by the President in the activities of a federal law enforcement agency, which he said was necessary solely to protect the integrity of the democratic process and reassure Nigerians of the neutrality of the Federal Government ahead of the Osun governorship election.
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