President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to unfreeze the accounts of the Osun State Government pursuant to a court order.
The directive is considered vital to the preservation of public confidence and the maintenance of the integrity, credibility and fairness of the democratic process in the run-up to the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
The President in a statement to State House Correspondents on Thursday, said with the Osun gubernatorial election around the corner, no action by any federal institution should create an impression that the Federal Government or itAgencies is trying to influence the electoral process.
President Tinubu said that he was not briefed before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) decided to seek a court order on August 5, but he expressed considerable embarrassment at the timing of the move. “The President is often blamed for the decisions of federal institutions and that affects the public’s view of his administration,” he said.
“As President, I shall give free rein to the institutions of State to function and take any action they consider necessary in the interest of proper governance without any prior approval. That is indeed why institutions are established by law with explicitly defined powers. I am not yet fully conversant with the facts that led to the action of the EFCC in approaching the court to obtain the said order freezing the Osun State Government account, but I am not in the least doubt that the timing of the action of the EFCC is inauspicious and therefore I feel compelled to intervene.
“The Osun State governorship election is just round the corner. So, nothing should be done to create an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the federal government is being used to interfere with the election.
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President Tinubu said, “Based on the foregoing premise, I am duty bound to issue a directive on this issue in consonance with the overriding public interest in preserving public confidence and the integrity, credibility and fairness of our democratic process.”
President Tinubu said since he assumed office, he has permitted anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies to carry out their statutory functions independently, professionally, and without political interference.
He emphasized the need for strong democratic institutions operating within the framework of the law as essential to good governance and the maintenance of the rule of law.
The President also said that he has deliberately not interfered in the operational activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other investigative agencies, insisting that institutions created by law should operate within their clearly defined powers and not seek presidential approval.
President Tinubu said the EFCC had not given him a full briefing on the decision to seek the freezing order.
“I was worried about the timing of this action and had to step in for the welfare of the public,” he said.
“Therefore, I have directed the EFCC to immediately go to court to vacate the order and stop whatever action it has filed against the Osun State Government on this matter,” President Tinubu said.
