President Bola Tinubu has described the timing of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) move to freeze an Osun State Government bank account as embarrassing.
In a statement shared on X, the President said he had not yet received full details behind the agency’s action but felt the need to step in.
“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.
“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.
“While I am yet to be fully apprised of the facts which informed the action of 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 of EFCC is inauspicious, and therefore I feel compelled to intervene.
“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.
“I have therefore deliberately refrained from directing or interfering in the operational activities of the EFCC or any other investigative or prosecutorial agency because I firmly believe that strong democratic institutions, operating within the confines of the law, are indispensable to democratic good governance and the rule of law.
“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.”
The EFCC recently froze an Osun State Government account held with a first-generation bank. The action drew criticism from Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Accord Party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and legal practitioners. Adeleke said he had directed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to challenge the decision in court.
The EFCC defended the move, saying it was meant to stop the alleged diversion of about N11 billion under investigation and had no link to the coming governorship election. The agency said investigators traced unusual transfers from government accounts to several companies and acted to prevent further movement of public funds.
Speaking on Arise Television on Thursday, EFCC spokesperson and Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, also dismissed claims that the commission needed a court order before placing the restriction, insisting the action was lawful under the EFCC Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
