President Bola Tinubu speaks with Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke over the frozen state account, explaining his directive to the EFCC to lift the restriction
President Bola Tinubu has spoken with Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke over the controversy surrounding the freezing of the state government’s account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The President personally contacted Adeleke on Thursday, August 6, informing him that he had directed the anti-graft agency to take steps to vacate the court order restricting access to the Osun State Government account.
The development was disclosed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the phone conversation marked a direct intervention by the Presidency in the dispute.
According to Onanuga, Tinubu assured Adeleke that action had been taken to address the situation.
“President Tinubu, in a phone conversation with Governor Ademola Adeleke on Thursday, informed him about his directive to the EFCC to lift the court order on the Osun State Government account,” he stated.
The EFCC had earlier obtained a court order placing restrictions on the Osun State Government’s account as part of an investigation into alleged financial issues involving the state.
The move attracted widespread attention, particularly because it came shortly before the Osun governorship election scheduled for August 15.
Tinubu had earlier expressed concern over the timing of the EFCC action, stating that measures by federal institutions should not create the impression of interference in the electoral process.
The President maintained that anti-corruption agencies must operate independently but said the timing of the action required intervention to protect confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
The direct conversation between Tinubu and Adeleke represents the latest development in the dispute between the Osun State Government and the EFCC.
