President Bola Tinubu has distanced himself from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) decision to freeze the accounts of the Osun State Government, saying he may not have been aware of the move before it was carried out.
The President said on his official X handle that he only became aware that the anti-graft agency had secured a court order on August 5, 2026, authorising the freezing of the state’s accounts.
Reacting to the development, Tinubu said what troubled him was not the EFCC’s decision to enforce a court order, but the timing of the action, which he believes has created the impression that it was sanctioned by the Presidency.
“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 explained that because the EFCC is a federal agency, its actions are often seen as direct decisions of the President, even when he has no prior knowledge of them.
“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 used the opportunity to reaffirm his long-standing position that anti-corruption agencies must be allowed to operate independently without political interference.
According to him, since assuming office, he has deliberately avoided directing the activities of the EFCC and other investigative agencies because he believes their credibility depends on their ability to act professionally and within the law.
He said strong democratic institutions are built on independence, accountability and respect for the rule of law, insisting that his administration remains committed to those principles.
The President’s remarks come amid growing attention over the EFCC’s court-backed freezing of the Osun State Government’s accounts, a development that has sparked political reactions and renewed debate over the independence of federal law enforcement agencies.
