Omoyele Sowore Accuses EFCC of Being Political Tool Following Reversed Osun Account Freeze
African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has strongly criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following President Bola Tinubu’s executive directive instructing the agency to vacate a court order freezing Osun State Government bank accounts.
Reacting via a post on his official X account on Thursday, Sowore alleged that the anti-graft agency has compromised its institutional independence and is being manipulated by ruling political figures to serve partisan interests.
The dispute follows a series of rapid developments that began when the EFCC placed a Post-No-Debit (PND) restriction on Osun State’s primary operational accounts over alleged suspicious transactions amid an ongoing probe into state funds.
The timing of the enforcement—coming days ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election—sparked intense criticism from opposition figures, legal experts, and civil society organizations who warned that restricting statutory allocation accounts threatens essential public services and risks undermining electoral fairness.
In response to the growing public scrutiny, President Tinubu publicly distanced himself from the decision, describing the timing of the agency’s action as inauspicious and capable of creating the impression of federal interference in the democratic process. The President subsequently ordered the EFCC to approach the court to vacate the freezing order immediately.
Sowore argued that the executive intervention and subsequent retreat by the EFCC provide clear evidence that the agency operates under political influence rather than strictly adhering to judicial mandates.
Addressing the situation on social media, Sowore stated:
“The @OfficialEFCC has become a tool in the hands of those in power, deployed whenever they want to pursue their political objectives. And now its ‘owners’ have called it to order!”
While the EFCC initially defended its actions as a preventive measure to safeguard public assets against sudden fund diversions, the commission is now expected to formally withdraw its court application following the presidential directive.
