The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to unfreeze the Osun State government’s account, following allegations of political interference. The directive came after the EFCC froze the state’s Federal Statutory Allocation Account, sparking public outcry over what many viewed as a politically motivated move ahead of the governorship election (thisdaylive.com).
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has publicly criticized the EFCC’s action, calling it unlawful and demanding N2 billion in damages. He has taken the matter to court, filing a lawsuit against the commission, which he claims has unjustly frozen the state’s funds (vanguardngr.com). The governor also accused the EFCC of engaging in a “masquerade” that undermines the state’s financial stability (dailypost.ng).
In response, Tinubu personally informed Adeleke of his decision to direct the EFCC to lift the court order. The president emphasized that the freeze was not justified and that the commission should act in accordance with the law (thisdaylive.com). Meanwhile, the Osun government has denied any allegations of looting, stating that the N11 billion claimed to have been stolen was unfounded (businessday.ng).
The situation highlights ongoing tensions between state governments and federal agencies, with concerns over the independence and fairness of investigations. The EFCC has yet to comment on the president’s directive, but the move has been seen as a significant step toward resolving the dispute.
