Secure court approval before unfreezing Osun account, Tinubu tells EFCC as Adeleke sues agency for ₦2bn

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President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately return to court and vacate the order freezing the Osun State Government’s account, saying the timing of the action, coming days before the state’s governorship election, could undermine public confidence in the democratic process.

The President also spoke directly with Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, informing him of the directive and assuring him that the anti-graft agency had been instructed to reverse the action.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said he was not embarrassed by the EFCC’s statutory powers but by the timing of the agency’s decision.

According to the President, although anti-corruption agencies must be allowed to carry out their constitutional responsibilities independently, no action should create the impression that federal institutions are being used to influence the outcome of an election.

“Osun State is only a few days away from its governorship election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or any other agency of the Federal Government is being used to interfere with the election,” Tinubu stated.

He added that while he had yet to receive a full briefing on the circumstances surrounding the investigation, he considered it necessary to intervene in the overriding public interest.

The President subsequently directed the EFCC to immediately approach the court to vacate the freezing order and discontinue the action against the Osun State Government.

Adeleke Files ₦2bn Suit

Following the controversy, Governor Adeleke instituted a ₦2 billion lawsuit before the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the freezing of the state’s Federal Statutory Allocation Account.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1762/2026, names the EFCC, its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, and First Bank Nigeria Limited as defendants.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare the freezing order unconstitutional, unlawful and beyond the powers of the EFCC, while also seeking an order nullifying the restriction placed on the account.

They further requested ₦2 billion as exemplary and aggravated damages for what they described as the unlawful interference with public funds.

Osun Government Welcomes Tinubu’s Intervention

Reacting to the President’s directive, the Osun State Government described the intervention as a victory for democracy and the rule of law.

Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, commended Tinubu for listening to public concerns, insisting that the state government had never opposed lawful investigations but rejected arbitrary actions.

He alleged that the account freeze was politically motivated and intended to frustrate the payment of workers’ palliatives ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

According to him, the state government had already fulfilled its obligations to workers despite the restriction and maintained that no public funds had been looted.

EFCC Defends Action

Despite the presidential directive, the EFCC maintained that its decision was lawful and aimed at protecting public funds.

The commission said it had been investigating the Osun State Government since March 2026 over the alleged diversion of about ₦11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.

EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren explained that the agency observed what it described as suspicious transfers from one of the state’s accounts to several corporate entities and therefore imposed a targeted restriction to preserve the funds.

He clarified that the action affected only one account and not all accounts operated by the Osun State Government.

Uwujaren also stated that the EFCC is empowered under Section 34 of the EFCC Act and Section 7(6) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, to impose a temporary restriction on suspicious accounts for up to 72 hours before obtaining a court order where necessary.

Opposition Criticises Presidency

The development drew mixed reactions from opposition parties.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the initial freezing of the account as an assault on democracy, warning that anti-corruption agencies must never be deployed in ways that could influence electoral outcomes.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) argued that Tinubu’s directive had exposed the lack of operational independence of the EFCC, contending that if the President could order the commission to withdraw from court proceedings, it raised questions about the agency’s autonomy.

An ADC House of Assembly candidate, Ayodele Adio, also questioned the Presidency’s claim that the EFCC would “vacate” a court order, arguing that only a competent court has the legal authority to discharge or vary its own orders.

Political Tension Ahead of Osun Poll

The controversy has heightened political tension ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, with both the state government and opposition parties accusing federal institutions of actions capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process.

While the Presidency insists the intervention is intended to protect the credibility of the election, the EFCC maintains that its investigation is purely based on allegations of financial misconduct and is not politically motivated.