President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to unfreeze the accounts of the Osun State Government as directed by a court order.
This 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 give the impression that the Federal Government or itAgencies are trying to influence the electoral process.
President Tinubu said he was not briefed ahead of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) decision to seek a court order on August 5 but expressed considerable embarrassment over the timing of the move. “The President is often blamed for the decisions made by federal institutions, and that has an impact on the public perception of his administration,” he said.
“As President, I will allow the institutions of State to function freely and take any action they deem necessary in the interest of proper governance without any prior approval. Indeed, that is why institutions are established by law with explicitly defined powers. I am yet to be fully apprised with the facts which informed the action of 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 EFCC is inauspicious and therefore I feel compelled to intervene.
“Osun State’s governorship election is just around 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 added, “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 stated that since he assumed office, he has allowed anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies to perform their statutory functions independently, professionally, and without political interference.
He stressed the importance of 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 without seeking presidential approval.
President Tinubu said the EFCC had not yet given him a full briefing on the decision to seek the freezing order.
“I was concerned with the timing of this action and had to intervene for the welfare of the public,” he said.
“Thus, I have directed the EFCC to go to court immediately to vacate the order and stop whatever action it has filed against the Osun State Government concerning this matter,” President Tinubu said.