President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to withdraw the court order freezing the Osun State Government's bank accounts. The President said the timing of the action, coming days before the August 15 governorship election, could create the wrong public perception despite the agency acting within its legal powers.

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the EFCC to immediately return to court and seek the removal of an order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government.

In a personally signed statement issued on Thursday, Tinubu acknowledged that the anti-graft agency acted within its statutory authority in obtaining the court order. However, he said the timing of the move was inappropriate because it came just days before the governorship election scheduled for August 15.

The President stated that although he had not been fully briefed on the reasons behind the EFCC's application to the court, he believed the action could be interpreted as federal interference in the state's electoral process.

Tinubu also expressed concern that decisions taken by federal agencies are often linked to the Presidency, even when they are made independently.

"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.

He added that his administration remains committed to allowing anti-corruption agencies to operate independently while ensuring that no action undermines public confidence in the electoral process.

The President therefore directed the EFCC to immediately return to court to vacate the freezing order and discontinue the action against the Osun State Government.

The EFCC had secured a court order freezing the state's accounts over alleged suspicious financial transactions.

The decision attracted criticism from the Osun State Government and opposition figures, who argued that the move could disrupt governance and raise concerns about the conduct of the upcoming governorship election.

The EFCC has yet to publicly respond to the President's directive. Further developments are expected as the commission takes steps to comply with the instruction and the August 15 governorship election approaches.