The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s claim that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained a court order to freeze the Osun State Government’s accounts, asking the President to clarify which court issued the alleged order.
In a statement on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, welcomed the President’s directive ordering the EFCC to discontinue the freezing of the accounts but said the explanation provided by the Presidency raised “far more troubling questions than it answers.”
According to the ADC, the EFCC had consistently defended its action by citing its statutory powers and preventive mandate, without mentioning any court order.
“The obvious question, therefore, is: where did the president obtain the information that a court order existed?” the party asked, adding that if such an order existed, the EFCC should have disclosed it in its earlier public statements and media appearances.
The opposition party argued that the President was either misinformed or had misrepresented the facts, describing either possibility as “deeply disturbing.”
The ADC also contended that President Tinubu’s admission that he directed the EFCC to withdraw the action contradicted claims that anti-corruption agencies operate independently.
“If the President possesses the authority to direct the EFCC to withdraw from court proceedings because the political consequences may affect an election, then it follows that he possesses the authority to direct the Commission in other operational matters as well,” the statement said.
The party further described as unusual the President’s decision to personally sign the statement announcing the reversal, rather than issuing it through the Presidency or another official government channel.
According to the ADC, the EFCC’s decision to reverse the account freeze was prompted by widespread public criticism rather than a voluntary commitment to democratic principles.
The party alleged that the initial attempt to freeze the Osun State Government’s accounts amounted to an abuse of state power aimed at influencing the forthcoming governorship election.
The ADC also urged President Tinubu to direct the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to stop opposing the bail application of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, arguing that if the President could intervene in one case in the public interest, he should do the same in others.
The statement was signed by Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress.
