Tinubu Should Have Respected EFCC’s Independence” — Falana Speaks On Osun Poll

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the freezing of Osun State Government accounts, arguing that the matter should have been handled through established legal procedures.

Falana said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had obtained a court order before restricting the state government’s accounts, while the Osun State Government had already approached the court to challenge the order.

He maintained that the President should have respected the statutory independence of the EFCC and allowed the judicial process to take its course.

According to Falana, the EFCC chairman is not directly subject to the President’s instructions in the discharge of the commission’s statutory duties.

He said, “In intervening in the Osun State crisis, President Tinubu ought to have respected the independent status of the EFCC and the due process of law.”

The senior lawyer noted that since the Osun State Government had already filed a case seeking to vacate the ex parte order, the matter could have been resolved through the courts.

Falana argued that Tinubu could have directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to take over the case under Section 174 of the Constitution.

He explained that the AGF could then apply to have the court order discharged or withdraw the case entirely.

Alternatively, Falana said the Attorney-General could have chosen not to oppose the application filed by the Osun State Government seeking to overturn the freezing order.

Despite his criticism of the procedure adopted, Falana welcomed the eventual restoration of the state government’s access to its funds.

Quoting William Shakespeare, he concluded, “All is well that ends well.”