President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to reverse the freezing of an Osun State Government account has triggered fresh political controversy, with opposition parties questioning the President’s explanation, lawyers and civil society groups backing the intervention, the Osun State Government dragging the commission to court, and scores of Nigerians on social media demanding the resignation or removal of the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.
President’s Intervention
The EFCC on Wednesday directed that no money be withdrawn from the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged fraudulent handling of about N11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federal Account Allocation Committee allocations.
Tinubu, in a personally signed statement on Thursday, directed the anti-graft agency to immediately approach the court to vacate the order freezing the account and discontinue the action. He stated that although he was yet to be fully briefed on the circumstances, the timing of the restriction was inappropriate given the August 15 Osun governorship election.
“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 added: “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.”
EFCC Defends Action
Defending the action earlier on Thursday, the EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission acted under Sections 34 of the EFCC Act and 7(6) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which empowered it to place a temporary restriction on suspicious accounts for up to 72 hours.
Uwujaren insisted the commission did not freeze all Osun State accounts but only placed a temporary restriction on one statutory account after detecting suspicious transactions.
He disclosed that investigations into the state began in March and that intelligence gathered from August 2 necessitated urgent intervention, adding that similar action was taken in Edo State before its governorship election.
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Osun Government Sues EFCC
In response, the Osun State Government on Thursday filed a suit against the commission, seeking to nullify the account freeze and asking the court to award N2 billion in exemplary damages.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1762/2026, was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Governor Ademola Adeleke, the state’s Attorney-General and the state’s Accountant-General are listed as plaintiffs, while the EFCC, its Executive Chairman and First Bank of Nigeria Limited are named as defendants.
The state is asking the court to determine whether the EFCC’s directive constitutes “an egregious act of executive lawlessness, an unlawful resort to self-help, a flagrant abuse of statutory powers, and a direct violation of the fundamental constitutional principles of due process.”
Among the reliefs sought, Osun is asking the court to declare the freeze unlawful, set it aside, issue perpetual injunctions restraining further interference, and award N2 billion in damages.
Osun Denies Allegation
The Osun State Government dismissed the commission’s claim that the restriction was linked to the alleged diversion of N11 billion, describing the allegation as an afterthought intended to justify an illegal action.
In a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government alleged that the real reason the EFCC froze the account was to stop the payment of palliatives the state government had promised workers.
Opposition Reacts
African Democratic Congress (ADC): The party welcomed Tinubu’s decision but argued that his explanation raised more questions than answers. The ADC questioned why the President repeatedly referred to an alleged court order when the EFCC never mentioned obtaining one.
“If the President could direct the EFCC to discontinue proceedings, then the long-standing claim that anti-corruption agencies operated independently of the Presidency has effectively collapsed,” the party stated.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar: Atiku stated that Tinubu’s directive had exposed presidential control over anti-corruption agencies.
“If the President possesses the authority to direct the EFCC to withdraw from court proceedings because the political consequences may affect an election, then it follows that he possesses the authority to direct the commission in other operational matters as well,” Atiku said.
He added: “Anti-corruption agencies must not conduct themselves in a manner that creates the perception that they are being deployed to influence political outcomes or weaken elected governments at critical electoral moments.”
Olukoyede Under Fire
The controversy sparked widespread criticism of EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede across social media, with many users demanding his resignation or removal.
On X, @Otunse1 wrote that Olukoyede should immediately tender his resignation letter, describing his continued stay in office as “clear evidence that he is being influenced.”
A.M. Temidayo (@AnewNaija) alleged: “By the time Ola Olukoyede exits the EFCC, his departure will be the most ignominious in the commission’s history. Under his watch, an institution meant to fight corruption became an instrument for settling political scores.”
On Facebook, Gbenga Shoyemi argued: “If President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was truly unaware of Ola Olukoyede and his team’s nebulous decision to freeze the Osun State Government’s account, then the EFCC chairman should be sacked immediately.”
Segun Ben-Ajayi said Tinubu had effectively thrown the EFCC chairman under the bus, adding: “If Tinubu is more ethical than you (Olukoyede) as a pastor, then you are worse than Judas Iscariot.”
Lawyers, CSOs React
Tokunbo Afikuyomi (Constitutional Lawyer): Commended Tinubu’s intervention, describing it as a demonstration of commitment to constitutional democracy and electoral fairness. He stressed that the EFCC must return to court to seek the discharge of the freezing order rather than relying on executive fiat.
Afam Osigwe (NBA President): Faulted the freezing of Osun State accounts, warning that any blanket restriction on a state’s finances without due legal process could cripple governance and amount to an abuse of power.
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani (CISLAC): Said the controversy highlighted the need to harmonize constitutional provisions with statutes establishing anti-corruption agencies. He described Tinubu’s intervention as a political solution prompted by public pressure.
Debo Adeniran (CACOL): Said Tinubu’s intervention appeared to have been prompted more by public outcry over the timing than by any conclusion that the EFCC acted unlawfully. He maintained that state governments must not deploy public funds for electioneering.
APC Calls for Apology
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) called on Governor Adeleke to apologise to President Tinubu and Minister Adegboyega Oyetola over what it described as false accusations.
The party said the President merely expressed concern over the timing of the EFCC’s action and did not absolve the Osun State Government of alleged complicity.
“The confused and frustrated Governor Adeleke must apologise to President Tinubu and Minister Oyetola for wrongfully accusing them of setting the anti-graft agency against the Accord Party,” the statement read.
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