Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has criticised the reported Osun account freeze by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), warning that using federal institutions for perceived political purposes could weaken public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic system.
Makinde made the remarks in a post published on his official X account on Thursday, following reports that the EFCC secured a court order freezing bank accounts belonging to the Osun State Government just days before the state’s governorship election.
The governor maintained that public officials and governments should remain accountable under the law but insisted that anti-corruption agencies must carry out their responsibilities with fairness, professionalism and political neutrality.
According to him, selective investigations or enforcement actions against particular states or public office holders risk undermining the credibility of institutions entrusted with enforcing the law. Makinde said the perceived targeting of opposition-controlled states could erode public trust in agencies such as the EFCC.
Commenting on the reported Osun account freeze, the governor argued that freezing an official state government account without following due legal process goes beyond the powers granted to the EFCC under Nigerian law. He also questioned the timing of the action, suggesting that carrying out such a move close to the Osun governorship election could create the impression of an attempt to influence the electoral process.
Makinde urged federal institutions to remain faithful to their constitutional mandates by acting impartially and professionally in the discharge of their duties. He also called on Nigerians, civil society organisations and the international community to remain vigilant in defending democratic values and the independence of public institutions.
According to the governor, democracy cannot flourish where institutions are perceived as instruments of political intimidation rather than impartial bodies established to uphold justice. He stressed that preserving the independence and credibility of public institutions remains essential to maintaining public trust, adding that the rule of law must always take precedence over political considerations.
