Atiku Accuses Tinubu of Exposing ‘Myth’ of EFCC Independence After Osun Account Directive

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of exposing what he described as the “myth” surrounding the operational independence of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies.

Atiku made the claim following the President’s directive to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to unfreeze the Osun State Government’s account, arguing that the development showed that the commission was subject to presidential influence.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President challenged Tinubu to also direct the release of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, if he truly had control over the operations of anti-graft agencies.

Atiku said the President could not claim ignorance of the EFCC’s activities while also directing the commission to discontinue its action against the Osun State Government.

“President Tinubu cannot have it both ways,” he said, adding that if the EFCC complied with the directive, Nigerians would have evidence that the agency was not as independent as portrayed.

The ADC candidate also questioned the difference between the EFCC’s explanation for freezing Osun’s accounts and Tinubu’s reference to a court order, asking why the commission did not mention such an order in its initial statement.

Atiku argued that the President’s intervention had raised questions about the consistency and credibility of anti-corruption institutions, stressing that their independence should not depend on presidential discretion.

He said the issue extended beyond Osun State and El-Rufai, describing it as a broader concern about the integrity of Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies and the rule of law.

The former Vice President also questioned the timing of the EFCC’s action, noting that Osun is governed by an opposition party and is approaching a governorship election.

He asked who authorised the freezing of the state’s account and why such a decision was taken during what he described as a politically sensitive period.

Atiku acknowledged that reversing the action could reduce tension surrounding the electoral process but maintained that questions remained over the circumstances that led to the freezing of the accounts in the first place.

The Presidency and the EFCC had not responded to Atiku’s latest allegations as of the time of filing the report.

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