The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has released the bank accounts belonging to the Osun State Government following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to remove the restriction placed on them.
The accounts, which were frozen shortly before the August 15, 2026 governorship election, are now said to be fully operational.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, confirmed the development, while an aide to Governor Ademola Adeleke also confirmed that the restriction had been removed.
The development followed a presidential order issued by Tinubu shortly after the EFCC obtained an order restricting access to the state government’s accounts.
The anti-graft agency had on August 5 placed the accounts held with First Bank under restriction, just 10 days before the governorship election.
The action generated reactions across the country, with critics questioning the timing of the move because it came shortly before the election. Some also linked the controversy to the political differences between the Osun State Government and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Following the public reaction, President Tinubu directed the EFCC to withdraw the restriction on the state government’s accounts.
The latest development means the Osun State Government can once again access and operate the affected accounts.
The removal of the restriction also led the state government to withdraw its legal action against the EFCC over the frozen accounts.
The accounts had remained at the centre of a dispute between the state government and the anti-graft agency, with the restriction coming at a politically sensitive period.
The Tinubu administration’s directive has now brought the matter to an end, at least with regard to the immediate restriction on the accounts.
The Osun State Government had earlier challenged the EFCC’s action in court, but the case was withdrawn after the accounts were released.
The development comes after the conclusion of the Osun governorship election, which held on August 15, 2026, and amid renewed political activity in the state.
The release of the funds is expected to allow the state government to continue its financial operations without the restriction that had affected the accounts.