President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to vacate the court order that has frozen the accounts of the Osun State Government.
This directive is considered crucial to the preservation of public confidence and the upholding 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, stated that with the Osun gubernatorial election just 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 beforehand on 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. He said that the President is often blamed for decisions made by federal institutions, which has an effect on the public perception of his administration.
“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 created by law with clearly defined powers. I am yet to be fully apprised of 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 slightest doubt that the timing of the action of EFCC is inauspicious and therefore I feel compelled to intervene.
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“Osun State is just a few days away from its gubernatorial election. 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.
“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 added.
President Tinubu said since his assumption to office, he has consistently allowed anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies to carry out their statutory functions independently, professionally, and without political interference.
And good governance, the rule of law, he said, requires strong democratic institutions acting within the law.
The President also said that he has deliberately not intervened 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 he was yet to be fully briefed on the decision of the EFCC to seek the freezing order.
He said that he was concerned about the timing of this action and had to intervene for the welfare of the public.
“Therefore, 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.
