President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to immediately vacate the court order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government, citing the inauspicious timing ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Tinubu expressed embarrassment over the timing of the EFCC’s action, noting that while he supports the independence of anti-corruption agencies, the move could create the impression that federal agencies are being used to interfere with the election.
“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,” Tinubu said.
The President acknowledged that he was not fully apprised of the facts that informed the EFCC’s action but insisted that the timing was inauspicious. He directed the EFCC to proceed to court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government.
The directive comes after Governor Ademola Adeleke, through the state’s Attorney-General, challenged the legality of the EFCC’s action.