Osun Account Freeze: EFCC, ICPC not independent under Tinubu

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said President Bola Tinubu’s order to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to unfreeze the bank accounts of Osun State has exposed his government to the world as a serial abuser of Nigeria’s corruption and independent agencies.

Okonkwo said Tinubu’s instructions show that both EFCC and ICPC are not independent under Tinubu’s government.

Posting on X, the constitutional lawyer said the president’s order is legally untenable but morally understandable.

He wrote: “Even though the order from President Tinubu to the EFCC to unfreeze the Osun State account might seem morally reasonable, it is not legally correct.

“The directive has shown the world what every Nigerian already knows, that Tinubu is someone who repeatedly uses corruption and independent agencies to unfairly target and harass his political opponents.

“His admission that he didn’t know about the EFCC action supports Cardinal Onaiyekan’s view that the people close to Tinubu are showing a false positive image of the country’s situation.

“The Bishops went to him to help him understand how things really are. Now Tinubu should thank the Bishops and scold his helpers. Tinubu said INEC is neutral, told ICPC to look into Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, and today told EFCC to unfreeze an account they had frozen.

“These show that none of our federal institutions is independent under Tinubu. Eternal vigilance is the only way to stop Tinubu from interfering in the actions of the “independent” institutions.

“Rule of law is castrated under Tinubu. In 2027, Nigeria should experience a significant change.”