EFCC Chairman Faces Resignation Calls Following Controversy Over Osun State Account Freeze

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Ola Olukoyede is facing mounting pressure from political parties and civil society groups demanding his resignation or dismissal, following the anti-graft agency’s decision to freeze Osun State Government bank accounts days before the state’s governorship election.

The controversy began after the EFCC placed a restriction on Osun State’s primary allocation accounts, citing an ongoing investigation into alleged public fund diversion and money laundering. However, President Bola Tinubu subsequently intervened, describing the move as embarrassing and directing the commission to unfreeze the accounts.

Opposition political parties, including the Accord Party and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), condemned the agency’s actions as politically motivated interference ahead of the August 15 poll.

“Having demonstrated unprecedented partisanship… Accord has lost confidence in the current leadership of the EFCC,” said Maxwell Mgbudem, National Chairman of the Accord Party, demanding Olukoyede’s immediate resignation.

While opposition leaders and social media commentators argue that the episode damaged the EFCC’s independence, sources within the Presidency indicated that while the President expressed frustration over the timing and public fallout, there are no immediate plans to relieve the EFCC chief of his duties.

Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, also defended the commission’s legal standing, noting that the EFCC acted within its statutory mandate after securing an ex-parte order from the Federal High Court in Abuja. Court documents confirm that the Federal High Court granted the EFCC an order on August 5 to restrict three Osun State accounts pending the outcome of its investigation, and legal processes to vacate the restriction remain ongoing as political tensions heighten across the state ahead of election day.