By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to reverse the freezing of Osun State Government accounts but has challenged the President to clarify his claim that the action was based on a court order.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party described the President’s explanation as “curious” and said it had raised more questions than it answered.
The ADC noted that throughout the controversy surrounding the freezing of the accounts, the EFCC consistently defended its action as an exercise of its statutory powers and preventive mandate, without making any reference to a court order.
The party questioned the source of the President’s assertion that the anti-graft agency had acted pursuant to a court order, asking why such information was never disclosed by the EFCC in its public statements or by its spokesman during media appearances.
“It is either the President was misinformed or he deliberately misrepresented the facts. Either possibility is deeply disturbing,” the statement said.
The ADC also argued that President Tinubu’s disclosure that he directed the EFCC to discontinue the proceedings contradicted repeated claims that anti-corruption agencies operate independently of the Presidency.
According to the party, if the President has the authority to instruct the EFCC to withdraw from court proceedings because of concerns about their political implications, it raises questions about the extent of executive influence over the operations of anti-corruption agencies.
The opposition party further described as unusual the President’s decision to personally sign the statement announcing the directive, instead of issuing it through the Presidency or other official government channels.
It said the development had fueled further speculation over the circumstances surrounding the reversal.
The ADC maintained that the decision to halt the freezing of the Osun State accounts was not voluntary but was prompted by widespread criticism from Nigerians, civil society organisations and political parties, which viewed the action as an abuse of state power capable of influencing the forthcoming Osun governorship election.
The party also urged the President to extend what it described as the same concern for fairness by directing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to stop opposing the bail application of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The ADC insisted that the controversy had further highlighted the need for transparency and institutional independence in the operations of federal law enforcement agencies.
Osun: ADC questions Tinubu over alleged Court Order, EFCC Independence
