EFCC boss in sack storm over Osun

Calls for the removal of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, intensified on Friday as opposition parties and some Nigerians responded to the freezing of the Osun State Government’s account.

They described the action of the anti-graft agency as politically motivated, alleging that the commission had demonstrated partisanship ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The Accord Party, New Nigeria People’s Patry and many netizens asked President Bola Tinubu to sack Olukoyede if he did not resign.

Some groups, however, asked the EFCC boss to leave honourably after the President disowned his action.

The EFCC had on Wednesday ordered a Post No Bill on the Osun State Government account domiciled with First Bank on the grounds of suspicious transactions.

The commission claimed that it had been investigating the account since March 2026 and that it had the power to freeze an account for 72 hours based on reasonable suspicion.

But the President, on Thursday, directed the EFCC to unfreeze the account, describing the commission’s action as embarrassIn  EFCC’s statement explaining its action generated more than 4,500 comments on X alone, with the majority criticising the move 10 days to the governorship election.

Similarly, the Special Adviser to the President, Bayo Onanuga’s tweet announcing the reversal of the action attracted over 1,600 comments, with many slamming both Tinubu and the EFCC.

Commenting on the matter, the National Chairman of Accord Party, Maxwell Mgbudem, said the party had lost confidence in the leadership of the EFCC, alleging that the commission’s action was political.

Mgbudem, who addressed a world press conference at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Friday, said Olukoyede needed to resign.

“Having demonstrated unprecedented partisanship in Osun State politics, assaulted the sensibilities of fellow compatriots and brought the nation to ridicule and disrepute before the international community, Accord has lost confidence in the current leadership of the EFCC.

“Accordingly, Accord demands the immediate resignation of the EFCC chairman. For embarrassing the President, the party, the government and people of Osun State, and fellow citizens, the EFCC chairman should toe the path of honour and tender his resignation.

“If he fails to resign, President Tinubu should sack him immediately to restore the integrity of the anti-graft agency,” he said.

Mgbudem insisted that there should be no “sacred cow” in efforts to sanitise the anti-corruption agency and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic system.

The party also urged security agencies and other institutions involved in the Osun election to remain impartial and operate within the law.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the National Chairman of the NNPP, Major Agbo, also backed calls for Olukoyede’s resignation, even as he raised concerns over the perceived erosion of the EFCC’s independence.

He said the President ought to have allowed the commission to complete its investigation instead of intervening.

Agbo said, “When I saw the President’s order directing that the account be unfrozen, I was surprised because, if I were him, I would have allowed the EFCC to do its job. It does not matter when it acted. The timing may have been wrong, but what is important is that it was carrying out its mandate.

“But asking the EFCC to unfreeze the account does not speak well of the commission’s independence. The implication is that it takes orders from the President.”

Asked whether he supported calls for Olukoyede’s resignation, Agbo replied, “Yes. Sadly, it has to happen.”

Also, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, advised Olukoyede to consider stepping down to protect his reputation.

“Ultimately, if I were Olukoyede, in order to save my reputation and integrity, I would leave while the ovation is loudest. Otherwise, there will be more problems for him in the near future.”

He said Tinubu’s directive had created the impression that the EFCC chairman was acting under political influence.

“The kind of response I got from the EFCC shows that Olukoyede tried to assert his independence. It seems the directive from a higher authority made him look like a puppet.

“So, the problem is actually with the person giving the directive, not the person executing it,” Tanko added.

Similarly, netizens who commented on Onanuga’s post expressed disappointment in the EFCC’s action.

An X user, Omashola Sagay, wrote, “Please sack the EFCC chairman. What he did was very wrong and out of place, considering the timing of his decision. I’m very sure some APC bigwigs in Osun State influenced his decision, and it has boomeranged against you, a well-known democratic leader.”

Kene Eruchalu, who also commented, wrote, “He has stayed too long for whatever good he has done. In the name of God, he should go”, while Moses Chuks-Agu said, “The EFCC under his watch is serving the interests of the ruling APC and the Presidency. I support his removal.”

Another user, AndrewOkere, wrote, “It is time to call time on this corruption of anti-corruption. Mr Chairman, in God’s name, please go!”

Bright Gilbert said, “The best thing for him is to tender his resignation,” while Nwabueze Ukoha wrote, “This is shameful. Complete political interference. You have confirmed that this organisation is an arm of the APC, aiming to arm-twist the Governor of Osun State before election day. Check the history of other EFCC chairmen; they ended in disgrace. You will end in shame too.”

Similarly, @nze_Anambra wrote, “If I were the EFCC chairman, I would just resign. Why must Tinubu throw him under the bus like that? They should have been smarter about this and staged a court process that would have ordered the EFCC to unfreeze the account. Instead, Tinubu gave the order and exposed the fact that he has been directing the EFCC on who to target or not target among his political opponents.”