The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has questioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s control over the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following the controversy surrounding the freezing of the Osun State Government’s accounts.

The caucus described the President’s directive to the anti-graft agency to vacate the order freezing the accounts as a panicky, belated afterthought, arguing that the development exposed contradictions within the Federal Government.

In a statement jointly signed by the Minority Leader, Hon. Fredrick Agbedi, and the caucus spokesman, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, and made available to journalists in Abuja on Friday, the lawmakers said the President’s intervention appeared to have followed widespread public criticism of the EFCC’s action.

The caucus specifically questioned the conflicting positions attributed to the EFCC and the President on whether a valid court order existed for the freezing of the accounts.

According to the lawmakers, EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, had stated on national television that the accounts were frozen “without a valid court order,” while the President later directed the commission to approach the court to vacate the order.

“So, which is it? Was there a court order or not?” the caucus asked.

The lawmakers questioned whether the President was fully aware of the actions and public statements of his appointees.

“Is the President not aware of what his own appointees are saying and doing? Has the President lost control to his army of sycophants who behave like lords over the people? Or are they simply trying to hide an illegality that has already been exposed?” they asked.

The Minority Caucus also accused senior presidential aides of initially circulating and defending the EFCC’s position on the account freeze before the President intervened.

“It is, therefore, insulting for the President to pretend ignorance… Nigerians are not fools,” the lawmakers said.

The caucus said the controversy was part of what it described as a broader pattern of pressure on the Osun State Government ahead of the governorship election.

It cited the alleged withholding of statutory allocations to Osun local governments, violence allegedly perpetrated by APC members and suspected thugs, the arrest and detention of the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaiye, and the conduct of the state Commissioner of Police.

The lawmakers criticised what they described as allegations by the police that the Osun State Government was harbouring hoodlums in the Government House.

“This is not policing. It is partisan propaganda in uniform,” the caucus said.

The Minority Caucus accused the APC-led Federal Government of using federal institutions to mount pressure on opposition-controlled states, describing the Osun situation as a possible “dress rehearsal” for the 2027 general elections.

“The mask is off. Nigerians can now see clearly that the APC has weaponised federal institutions against opposition states – a dress rehearsal of what is to come in the 2027 general elections,” it said.

The lawmakers urged President Tinubu to allow the people of Osun State to freely determine their leadership through the ballot, without intimidation or coercion.

“Violence, intimidation, economic sabotage, and the misuse of federal agencies have NO place in a democracy,” they declared.

The caucus also appealed to civil society organisations and the international community to hold the APC and the Federal Government accountable for any breakdown of law and order before, during and after the election.

“Osun is not a conquered territory. You will not rig this election through EFCC, through the Police, or through thuggery,” the lawmakers warned.

“Osun people will vote. Osun people will be protected. And democracy will prevail. (The Guardian)

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