Headline: Tinubu Orders EFCC to Seek Court Approval to Unfreeze Osun Government Account

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to return to court and seek the lifting of an order restricting an account belonging to the Osun State Government.

The President expressed concern that the timing of the restriction, coming shortly before the state’s governorship election, could create the impression of federal interference and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

According to the Presidency, Tinubu supports the independence of anti-corruption agencies and does not seek to interfere with their statutory responsibilities. However, he believes actions that could raise doubts about the credibility of an election should be handled with caution.

Tinubu also spoke by telephone with Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and informed him that he had instructed the EFCC to take immediate legal steps to have the restriction lifted.

The Osun State Government welcomed the intervention, with its Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, describing it as a positive development and alleging that the account restriction had political undertones.

Governor Adeleke has also instituted a ₦2 billion legal action at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the EFCC, its chairman and First Bank Nigeria Limited. The suit challenges the restriction and seeks compensation over what the state considers unlawful interference with its funds.

The state government has denied allegations of diverting about ₦11 billion in ecological and intervention funds, maintaining that the EFCC action could disrupt government operations.

The EFCC, however, has defended the restriction, saying it was part of an ongoing investigation into suspicious transactions involving the account.

The commission explained that such temporary restrictions are permitted under relevant financial crime laws to preserve funds while investigations are conducted, with further judicial approval required where necessary.

The development has attracted political reactions. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticised the timing of the restriction, warning against actions that could create perceptions of electoral manipulation.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, also questioned the Presidency’s intervention, arguing that it could raise concerns about the operational independence of the EFCC.

The legal battle is expected to continue as political attention intensifies ahead of the Osun governorship election.

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