President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has explained why he feels embarrassed over the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) decision to obtain a court order restricting the Osun State Government’s bank accounts, saying the timing of the action could create the impression that the Federal Government is interfering in the state’s forthcoming governorship election.
In a statement he personally signed on Thursday, the President said he was not embarrassed by the EFCC’s exercise of its statutory powers but by when the action was taken, noting that every decision of a federal institution is often attributed to him, whether or not he had prior knowledge of it.
“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,” Tinubu said.
The President reiterated that since assuming office, he had consistently allowed anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies to perform their constitutional responsibilities independently, without fear, favour or political interference.
He said he had deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC and other investigative agencies because strong democratic institutions are essential to good governance and the rule of law.
Tinubu, however, said the timing of the restriction on Osun State’s accounts was “inauspicious,” given that the state is only a few days away from its governorship election.
According to him, no action should be taken that could give the impression that the EFCC or any other federal agency is being used to influence the electoral process.
“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,” he stated.
Although he said he was yet to receive a full briefing on the reasons behind the EFCC’s application to the court, Tinubu stressed that preserving public confidence in the electoral process was of overriding importance.
Consequently, the President directed the EFCC to immediately return to court to vacate the order restricting the Osun State Government’s accounts and discontinue all legal actions instituted against the state in connection with the matter.
Tinubu said the directive was issued in the public interest to protect the integrity, credibility and fairness of the democratic process ahead of the Osun governorship election.
