President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately vacate the order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the President expressed personal embarrassment over the development, particularly the timing of the anti-graft agency’s action.

“It has come to my notice that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government. 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 stated.

He explained that actions taken by federal institutions are often attributed to the Presidency, even when he may not have prior knowledge of them.

“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 added.

Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to the independence of anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies, noting that he has consistently avoided interfering in their operations.

“Since assuming office, I have 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.

However, the President noted that he had yet to be fully briefed on the circumstances that led to the EFCC obtaining the court order but described the timing as “inauspicious,” prompting his intervention.

“With Osun State only days away from its governorship election, nothing should be done to create the impression that any federal agency is being used to interfere with the democratic process,” he stressed.

Tinubu, therefore, ordered the EFCC to return to court to vacate the freezing order and discontinue all related actions against the Osun State Government.

“Accordingly, I have directed the EFCC to immediately proceed to the court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government in this regard,” the President declared.

The EFCC had earlier stated that the accounts were frozen following the detection of unusually large transfers to suspicious corporate accounts, as part of an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of about ₦11 billion in public funds. The agency also maintained that its actions were unrelated to the August 15 governorship election in the state.

President Tinubu concluded by emphasizing the need to preserve public confidence in the integrity, credibility, and fairness of Nigeria’s democratic process.