President Bola Tinubu has declared that he was deeply embarrassed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for taking a step to freeze all bank accounts of the Osun State Government.
This was as he directed the anti-graft body to immediately unfreeze the bank accounts without any further delay.
The president gave the directive in a State House statement he personally signed and was made available to newsmen on Thursday.
EFCC had, to the consternation of several Nigerians, announced, on Wednesday, the freezing of the various bank accounts of the Osun State Government, citing some anomalies in the spendings of the state government.
The action of the anti-graft body drew nationwide condemnations with several people reading political meanings into, especially as the governorship election in the state would hold less than 10 days away.
President Tinubu, reacting to the act, stated that he was embarrassed, adding that it just came to his notice that EFCC obtained a court order on 5 August, 2026, freezing the Osun State Government accounts.
He said he was particularly embarrassed because every action taken by any state institution, especially at the federal level, would always be credited to him as the president, even when he was not aware
Tinubu’s directive on Osun State Government Accounts
“It has come to my notice that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government.
“I must state that I feel 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.
“This is so because every action taken by an institution of State, especially at the federal level, is always credited to me, as the President, even when I may not have had any prior knowledge of the action,” he stated.
The president stated that he has consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies be allowed to discharge their duties independently, professionally, without fear or favour or political influence.
“I have therefore deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or any other investigative or prosecutorial agency because I firmly believe that strong democratic institutions, operating within the confines of the law, are indispensable to democratic good governance and the rule of law.
“As President, I am committed to allowing institutions of State to function and take any action they consider necessary in the interest of proper governance without the need for any prior approval.
“Indeed, that is why institutions are set up by law with clearly defined powers.
“While I am yet to be fully apprised of the facts which informed the action of EFCC in approaching the court to obtain the said order freezing the Osun State Government accounts, I am not in the slightest doubt that the timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious, and therefore I feel compelled to intervene.
“Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election.
“Therefore, 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.
“Based on the foregoing premise, I am duty-bound to issue a directive on this issue in consonance with the overriding public interest in preserving public confidence and the integrity, credibility, and fairness of our democratic process.
“Accordingly, I have directed the EFCC to immediately proceed to the court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government in this regard,” President Tinubu further stated in the statement.
