Tinubu: Timing of EFCC’s Freeze on Osun Account Embarrassing, Orders Intervention
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday described the timing of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) freezing of an Osun State Government bank account as embarrassing,saying the action could create the impression of federal interference in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
The President, in a statement posted on his verified X handle, said although he respected the EFCC’s constitutional mandate and the court order backing its action, he was concerned about when the decision was taken.
“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.
He explained that Nigerians often attribute the actions of federal institutions to the Presidency, even in situations where he had no prior knowledge of such decisions.
“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.
Tinubu said he was still awaiting a comprehensive briefing on the circumstances that led the anti-graft agency to obtain the court order freezing the state’s account, but noted that the timing of the action compelled him to intervene.
“While I am yet to be fully apprised of the facts which informed the action of the EFCC in approaching the court to obtain the said order freezing the Osun State Government account, I am not in the slightest doubt that the timing of the action is inauspicious, and therefore I feel compelled to intervene,” he said.
The President reaffirmed his commitment to the independence of anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies, stressing that he had deliberately refrained from interfering in their operations since assuming office.
“Since assuming office, I have consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must be allowed to discharge their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally, without fear or favour or political interference,” he said.
He added that preserving the independence of democratic institutions remained essential to the rule of law and good governance.
Tinubu, however, cautioned that with the Osun governorship election only days away, government agencies must avoid actions capable of raising doubts about the credibility of the electoral process.
“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,” he said.
The President’s remarks followed the EFCC’s freezing of an Osun State Government account domiciled in a first-generation bank over an investigation into the alleged diversion of about N11 billion in public funds.
The action drew criticism from Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Accord Party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), legal practitioners and other stakeholders, who questioned both the legality and timing of the move.
Governor Adeleke subsequently directed the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to challenge the court order.
Responding to the criticism, the EFCC insisted that the restriction had no connection with the August 15 governorship election, maintaining that it was aimed solely at preventing the alleged diversion of public funds under investigation.
According to the commission, investigators uncovered what it described as suspicious transfers of government funds into several corporate accounts, adding that allowing the transactions to continue would have undermined ongoing efforts to safeguard public resources.
Also speaking on Arise Television on Thursday, EFCC spokesman and Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, dismissed claims by the Osun State Government and the Nigerian Bar Association that the commission acted outside the law.
He maintained that the temporary restriction placed on the account was lawful and supported by the provisions of the EFCC Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.