EFCC Freezes Three Osun Government Accounts, President Tinubu Orders Immediate Release.

President intervenes as anti-graft agency's pre-election action sparks political firestorm.

In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria's political landscape, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen not one but three bank accounts belonging to the Osun State Government a move that President Bola Tinubu has now publicly condemned and ordered to be reversed.

The revelations come at a particularly sensitive time, with Osun State just days away from its crucial governorship election scheduled for August 15.

Earlier this week, reports suggested that the EFCC had placed a freeze on a single government account at First Bank. However, newly uncovered documents obtained by Sahara Reporters reveal a much more extensive operation. The anti-corruption agency actually secured a court order targeting three separate accounts:

· One federal allocation account with First Bank (Account No. 2017170947)

· Two joint allocation accounts with Zenith Bank (Account Nos. 1013374191 and 1014374909)

The court order, issued by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 5, came through an ex parte application meaning the Osun State Government had no opportunity to defend itself before the freeze was imposed.

According to court documents, EFCC lawyer M.A. Babatunde told the court the accounts were being investigated for alleged "Diversion of public funds and Money Laundering."

Timing Raises Eyebrows:

The timing of the freeze has ignited a firestorm of criticism, coming as Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party prepares for a heated re-election battle against the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

Critics have accused federal agencies, including the police and EFCC, of showing bias in their enforcement actions, suggesting they are being weaponized against opposition parties in the lead-up to the election.

President Steps In:

In an unusual and strongly-worded intervention, President Tinubu on Thursday directed the EFCC to immediately vacate the court order and discontinue the action against the Osun State Government.

In a personal statement, the President expressed "deep embarrassment" over the situation, noting that while he typically refrains from interfering with the operational activities of investigative agencies, this case demanded his intervention.

"Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the federal government is being used to interfere with the election," Tinubu stated.

The President also revealed he had personally called Governor Adeleke to inform him of the directive to lift the account restrictions.

Questions Remain:

The EFCC initially gave the impression that only one account was affected, and agency spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren appeared on Arise Television on Thursday to defend the freeze, suggesting the commission had not obtained a prior court order but would follow up within 72 hours a claim that now appears contradicted by the court documents.

It remains unclear whether the EFCC has actually applied to the court to lift the freeze orders as directed by the President, and the agency has not yet commented on why it did not disclose the full scope of its action in earlier public communications.

For now, the episode stands as a stark reminder of the tensions surrounding Nigeria's electoral processes and the delicate balance between anti-corruption enforcement and political neutrality.