President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately return to court and seek the removal of the restriction placed on an account belonging to the Osun State Government.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said he was concerned about the timing of the action, coming only days before the Osun governorship election. Tinubu noted that federal agencies are often linked to the Presidency even when he may not have prior knowledge of their actions.
He said anti-corruption agencies must continue to operate independently and professionally, but stressed that nothing should create the impression that the Federal Government is attempting to influence the forthcoming election in Osun State.
The President also spoke with Governor Ademola Adeleke by telephone on Thursday and informed him of the directive given to the EFCC.
The commission had confirmed on Wednesday that it placed a temporary restriction on one Osun State government account over suspected suspicious transactions. The EFCC said the action was connected to an investigation into the alleged diversion of about N11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.
Reacting to the President’s intervention, the Osun State Government described it as a victory for the rule of law. Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said the state was not opposed to lawful investigations but rejected what it called arbitrary actions.
Governor Adeleke has also filed a N2 billion suit against the EFCC before the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging what he described as the unlawful freezing of the state’s Federal Statutory Allocation Account. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1762/2026, seeks damages and an order nullifying the restriction placed on the account.
The Osun Government insists the EFCC’s action was politically motivated and not based on any proven wrongdoing. It said workers’ palliatives had already been paid and accused the commission of attempting to tarnish the image of the state government.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticised the timing of the restriction, describing it as a threat to democratic governance. He argued that anti-corruption agencies must not create the perception that they are being used to influence political outcomes, especially during an election period.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also questioned the development, saying the President’s directive raised concerns about the independence of the EFCC.
However, EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren defended the commission’s action during an interview on Arise Television. He said the restriction applied to only one account, was temporary, and was aimed at preserving funds while suspicious transactions were being examined. According to him, the EFCC has authority under Section 34 of the EFCC Act and Section 7(6) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 to place a temporary restriction on an account for up to 72 hours before obtaining a court order if necessary.
No hearing date has yet been fixed for Adeleke’s suit.
