The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s claim that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) acted on a court order when it froze the Osun State Government’s bank accounts.
In a statement on Thursday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party welcomed the President’s decision to order the EFCC to reverse the action but asked, “Which court order did you direct EFCC to vacate?”
The ADC said the EFCC had never mentioned any court order while defending its decision. Instead, the commission said it acted under its legal powers and its “preventive mandate”.
The party said, “It is either the President was misinformed or he had chosen to misrepresent the facts. Either possibility is deeply disturbing.”
The ADC also argued that the President’s admission that he directed the EFCC to withdraw the case contradicted claims that anti-corruption agencies operate independently.
It said, “If the President possesses the authority to direct the EFCC to withdraw from court proceedings because the political consequences may affect an election, then it follows that he possesses the authority to direct the Commission in other operational matters as well.”
The opposition party further described the President’s personally signed statement as unusual, saying it raised questions about why he handled the matter directly instead of allowing the appropriate government channels to do so.
According to the ADC, the EFCC’s decision was reversed because of widespread criticism from Nigerians, civil society groups and political parties, not because of a voluntary commitment to democratic values.
The party also urged the President to direct the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to stop opposing the bail application of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai if he could intervene in the EFCC matter.
ADC questions Tinubu’s claim on EFCC’s freezing of Osun accounts