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

The President said although he respects the independence of the anti-graft agency and had no prior knowledge of its action, he was compelled to intervene in the overriding public interest to safeguard the integrity and credibility of the democratic process.

The EFCC had on Wednesday secured a court order freezing the Osun State Government’s First Bank account by placing a Post No Debit (PND) restriction on it over alleged fraudulent handling of N11 billion in ecology funds, intervention funds and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.

The commission alleged that large sums were transferred from the account to various corporate entities, prompting it to seek judicial intervention to halt further transactions.

In a personally signed statement issued on Thursday, Tinubu expressed concern over the timing of the anti-graft agency’s action.

“It has come to my notice that the 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,” the President said.

He noted that as President, actions taken by federal institutions are often attributed to him, regardless of whether he had prior knowledge of them.

Tinubu reiterated that since assuming office, he has deliberately refrained from interfering in the operations of anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies, insisting that institutions must be allowed to carry out their constitutional responsibilities independently and professionally.

However, he stressed that with the Osun governorship election only days away, the freezing of the state’s accounts could create the impression that federal institutions were being used to influence the electoral process.

“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,” he said.

Consequently, the President directed the EFCC to return to court and seek the vacation of the freezing order while discontinuing the action 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 statement added.

Tinubu also personally called Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to discuss the development. The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Information, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the telephone conversation.

Reacting to the allegations, the Osun State Government denied any wrongdoing.

Commissioner for Information Kolapo Alimi said the administration had prudently managed public funds, including the payment of palliatives to workers after negotiations with organised labour.

“We don’t loot public funds in Osun State; we deliver public goods and services,” Alimi said, insisting that available resources were being used for infrastructure development, workers’ welfare and other public programmes.

The development has generated legal debate, with two Senior Advocates of Nigeria expressing differing views on the President’s directive to the EFCC, highlighting the constitutional questions surrounding executive intervention in the operations of an independent anti-graft agency.