Pressure is mounting on President Bola Tinubu to remove the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, over the controversial freezing of Osun State Government accounts ahead of the governorship election.

The controversy erupted after the EFCC restricted access to the state government’s accounts as part of an investigation into alleged suspicious financial transactions.

The move triggered strong reactions from political parties and stakeholders, who accused the anti-graft agency of interfering in the electoral process and creating tension ahead of the poll.

The development took a dramatic turn when President Tinubu directed the EFCC to return to court and vacate the order restricting the accounts.

The directive has intensified calls for Olukoyede’s removal, with critics questioning the timing of the EFCC’s action and its potential impact on the election.

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The Accord Party has already demanded Olukoyede’s resignation, accusing the commission of undermining public confidence in the fight against corruption.

However, the EFCC chairman has received backing from some prominent Nigerians, including human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, who maintained that the commission acted within its legal powers.

The Presidency has also not indicated that Olukoyede is facing imminent removal.

With the Osun governorship election approaching, the controversy has further heightened political tension, putting the EFCC chairman under intense public and political scrutiny.

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over a suspicious credit into one of his private bank accounts, alleging that his confidential banking details may have been compromised.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday and signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

According to the statement, the transfer was made by an individual unknown to the former vice president, with the narration: “Contribution Electioneering Campaign.”

“Neither His Excellency nor his campaign solicited, authorised or has any knowledge of the individual or entity behind the unauthorised payment,” the statement read.

Atiku said the circumstances surrounding the transaction were “deeply troubling,” noting that the account was strictly private and its details were not publicly available.

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“The account is a strictly private one whose details are not in the public domain. This raises a fundamental question: How did unknown persons obtain the confidential banking details of a private citizen?” the statement added.

He said the alleged access to his banking information raised broader concerns about the protection of Nigerians’ financial privacy.

“If the private banking information of a former Vice President and a leading presidential candidate can be accessed and deployed for reasons yet unknown, then no Nigerian’s financial privacy is safe,” Atiku was quoted as saying.

The former vice president also expressed concern that the information may have been obtained through individuals with privileged access.

“Even more disturbing is the suspicion that such confidential information may have been obtained through persons with privileged access,” the statement said.

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Atiku warned that any breach of confidential banking information could expose citizens to serious security threats.

“If established, this would amount to a grave abuse of power capable of exposing the account holder to kidnappers, terrorists, bandits, fraudsters and other criminal elements,” the statement added.

The ADC presidential candidate said security agencies and Nigerians had been notified of the development, describing it as part of a series of suspicious activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We therefore put the Nigerian public — and the security agencies — on notice about this latest incident in a litany of suspicious activities leading up to next year’s general elections,” he said.

Atiku urged Nigerians not to be distracted by what he described as attempts to smear his reputation as political activities intensify ahead of the elections.

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“As political activities gather momentum, Nigerians should not be distracted by these tired tactics that smack of character assassination,” the statement read.

“Such desperate antics have failed before and will fail again,” he added.

The former vice president maintained that he remained committed to providing what he described as credible leadership and practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.

“The Waziri Adamawa remains focused on offering Nigerians credible leadership and practical solutions to the nation’s challenges,” the statement said.

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President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately return to court and vacate the order freezing the Osun State Government’s accounts, citing the need to safeguard public confidence in the democratic process ahead of the state’s governorship election.
In a statement issued by the State House on Thursday, the President said he was not opposed to the EFCC exercising its statutory powers but expressed concern over the timing of the action, noting that Osun is only days away from the August 15 governorship poll.
Tinubu said he was “deeply embarrassed” not by the anti-graft agency’s mandate, but by the decision to freeze the state’s accounts at such a sensitive political period.
The EFCC had obtained a court order on August 5, 2026, as part of an investigation into alleged financial infractions involving the Osun State Government. The commission maintained that its actions were lawful, insisting it could freeze accounts suspected to be linked to financial crimes and seek judicial approval for extended restrictions.
The President, however, said actions taken by federal institutions are often attributed to him, regardless of whether he had prior knowledge of them.
He reiterated that since assuming office, he had consistently allowed anti-corruption agencies to operate independently without political interference, stressing that strong democratic institutions were essential to the rule of law.
Despite this position, Tinubu said the proximity of the Osun governorship election made the timing of the EFCC’s action inappropriate and required his intervention to prevent any perception that federal agencies were being used to influence the electoral process.
According to him, although he had not been fully briefed on the facts behind the investigation, the overriding public interest demanded that confidence in the integrity and fairness of the election be protected.
The President subsequently directed the EFCC to immediately return to court, vacate the freezing order and discontinue the action against the Osun State Government.
The development follows a dispute between the Osun State Government and the EFCC over allegations of financial misconduct. The state government has denied claims of misappropriating ₦11 billion and accused the commission of attempting to justify its decision to freeze the accounts, while the EFCC insists its investigation is strictly based on its statutory mandate and not politically motivated.

Osun State Governor and Accord Party governorship candidate, Ademola Adeleke, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to resisting all forms of intimidation through lawful and democratic means as the state prepares for the August 15 governorship election.

In a series of posts on his X account on Thursday, Adeleke said his administration remains focused on prudent management of public resources and implementing people-centred policies that have improved the lives of residents across the state.

The governor expressed appreciation to party members and supporters in Ayedaade Local Government Area for the massive turnout during his campaign visit, describing the reception as a strong endorsement of his continuity agenda.

According to him, the enthusiasm shown by supporters reflects their determination despite what he described as repeated provocations.

Adeleke urged his supporters to remain peaceful, vigilant and united, insisting that the best response to intimidation is discipline and a massive turnout on election day.

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His remarks come amid controversy over the reported freezing of the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of an ongoing investigation.

The Nigerian Bar Association has criticised the EFCC’s action, arguing that the anti-graft agency lacks the constitutional authority to impose a blanket restriction on a state’s finances without due legal process.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Government has denied any financial wrongdoing. Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, accused the EFCC of acting on the alleged directive of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola to frustrate the payment of workers’ palliatives.

The Osun governorship election is scheduled for August 15, with Adeleke seeking a second term under the Accord Party platform.

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Amid allegations of financial impropriety rocking the Ondo State House of Assembly, lawmakers on Wednesday held a parliamentary meeting to deliberate on pending legislative matters and announced the constitution of a four-member panel to investigate and audit the Assembly’s accounts, including the alleged involvement of the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji.

The meeting was held at the Assembly complex, but the Speaker and his Deputy, Ololade Gbegudu, were absent. The Majority Leader, Hon. Olatunji Oshati, however, attended the meeting.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Olatunji Ifabiyi, alongside some lawmakers, confirmed that the Assembly’s accounts would be audited.

Ifabiyi, who did not disclose the identities of members of the four-member probe panel, said the leadership of the House had been under pressure to resume legislative activities.

He said the lawmakers considered it necessary to reconvene to discharge their constitutional responsibilities of lawmaking and oversight, following concerns over the prolonged absence of plenary sessions and committee meetings.

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According to him, the lawmakers deliberated on issues affecting the development of Ondo State, including constituency projects, community development and the welfare of residents across the state’s 18 local government areas.

Speaking on the political situation in the Assembly, Ifabiyi said lawmakers had not abandoned their plan to impeach the Speaker, but were awaiting further directives from the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He dismissed allegations that lawmakers had been financially induced to abandon the impeachment move, insisting that the process remained pending.

“We are still waiting for the leadership of the party. We are unable to proceed further until the leadership of the party asks us to. So, it’s pending. We are still on course,” he said.

On the role of the state government in the crisis, Ifabiyi said Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had no role in the day-to-day running of the legislature, describing the intervention of the APC leadership as a normal party affair.

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“The Governor does not intervene in the running of the legislature. It is normal for a party to intervene because we are from the same family,” he said.

He added that the APC leadership should treat all members of the Assembly equally, noting that all 26 lawmakers belonged to the same political party.

“Our father will not prefer one person at the expense of 26. Our father will not do that,” Ifabiyi said.