President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately take steps to vacate the court order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, saying the timing of the action could undermine public confidence in the forthcoming governorship election.

The directive was contained in a State House statement dated August 6, 2026, and shared on Facebook by the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

In the statement, President Tinubu said he became aware that the EFCC had obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, freezing the Osun State Government's accounts. While acknowledging the commission's statutory powers and the court-backed nature of the action, he expressed concern over its timing.

The President said he was deeply embarrassed by the development, noting that actions taken by federal institutions are often attributed to him, even when he has no prior knowledge of them.

Tinubu reiterated his administration's commitment to allowing anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies to carry out their constitutional responsibilities independently, professionally, and without political interference.

He explained that since assuming office, he has deliberately refrained from interfering in the operations of the EFCC and other investigative agencies because he believes that strong democratic institutions are essential for good governance and the rule of law.

The President, however, stated that although he had not been fully briefed on the reasons behind the EFCC's decision to seek the court order, he considered the timing inappropriate given that Osun State is only days away from its governorship election.

According to him, no action should create the impression that the EFCC or any other federal agency is being used to influence or interfere in the electoral process.

"In the overriding public interest of preserving public confidence and the integrity, credibility, and fairness of our democratic process, 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 stated.