ADC Questions Tinubu’s Order On Osun Account Freeze

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has questioned the independence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the anti-graft agency to reverse the freezing of the Osun State Government’s bank accounts.

The opposition party said the President’s intervention, as well as his reference to an alleged court order that authorised the account freeze, has sparked fresh concerns about the operational autonomy of the commission.

President Tinubu had, on Thursday, instructed the EFCC to immediately return to court to vacate the order freezing the state government’s accounts, describing the timing of the action—just days before the August 15 Osun governorship election as inappropriate.

The President explained that although the EFCC was carrying out its statutory responsibilities, he felt “deeply embarrassed” because actions taken by federal agencies are often attributed to the Presidency and could create the impression of federal interference in the electoral process.

Before the presidential directive, the EFCC had defended its decision to freeze the accounts, stating that it was investigating the alleged diversion of Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds, and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations belonging to the Osun State Government.

The commission maintained that suspicious financial transactions uncovered during the investigation justified the restriction, insisting the move was a routine preventive measure and not politically motivated.

EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, had also noted that similar restrictions were placed on Edo State’saccounts ahead of the 2024 governorship election.

Reacting in a statement on Thursday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said while the party welcomed President Tinubu’s directive, his explanation had raised more questions than it answered.

“What we find most curious about the statement is the President’s repeated reference to an alleged court order authorising the freezing of the Osun State Government’s accounts,” Abdullahi said.

He argued that throughout the controversy, the EFCC consistently defended its action based on its statutory powers and preventive mandate without publicly stating that it had secured judicial approval.

“In all of its public statements on this matter, the EFCC never once claimed that it had obtained a court order. The commission consistently defended its actions on the basis of its statutory powers and what it described as its ‘preventive mandate’.

“At no point did it inform Nigerians that a court had authorised its actions. The obvious question, therefore, is: where did the President obtain the information that a court order existed? If such an order exists, why was it never mentioned by the EFCC in its statement while defending one of the most controversial actions it has taken in recent times?

“If no such order exists, why would the President introduce one into the public narrative? It is either the President was misinformed or he had chosen to misrepresent the facts. Either possibility is deeply disturbing,” he stated.

The ADC further argued that the President’s admission that he instructed the EFCC to withdraw the matter from court contradicts repeated assurances that anti-corruption agencies operate independently of the executive arm of government.

“The President also insists that he does not interfere in the operational activities of anti-corruption agencies, yet in the same statement he publicly announces that he has directed the EFCC to approach the court, vacate the alleged order, and discontinue its case.

“If the President possesses the authority to direct the EFCC to withdraw from court proceedings because the political consequences may affect an election, then it follows that he possesses the authority to direct the commission in other operational matters as well.

“The net implication is that the carefully cultivated argument that these agencies operate entirely independently collapses under the weight of the President’s own statement,” Abdullahi added.