The Bureau Chief, South-South of 9NEWS NIGERIA, Ambassador Emmalex David Atseyinku, has strongly criticised the decision by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to freeze the bank account of the Osun State Government, describing the action as hypocritical, unjustified, and detrimental to Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Reacting to the commission’s recent press release regarding the account freeze, Amb. Atseyinku expressed concern over what he described as the growing politicisation of anti-corruption institutions in the country. He argued that, based on the information contained in the EFCC’s statement, there appeared to be no sufficient legal or factual justification for freezing the state’s account.
According to the veteran journalist, the action raises serious questions about the independence of the anti-graft agency and creates the impression that it is acting on external directives rather than carrying out its constitutional mandate of combating economic and financial crimes impartially and professionally.
Amb. Atseyinku maintained that the freezing of the Osun State Government’s account constitutes an abuse of power and could negatively affect governance, public service delivery, and the welfare of citizens who rely on government-funded services.
He further alleged that the development reflects what he described as an anti-democratic pattern under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, claiming that opposition-controlled states and political figures are increasingly becoming targets of selective actions by federal institutions.
The 9NEWS NIGERIA Bureau Chief described the incident as political witch-hunting, warning that the perceived use of law enforcement agencies for political purposes undermines democratic values, weakens public confidence in government institutions, and threatens the rule of law.
He also accused the EFCC of allowing itself to be used as a political instrument against opposition politicians and political entities instead of maintaining its independence and focusing on its core responsibility of investigating and prosecuting genuine cases of financial crimes.
Amb. Atseyinku concluded by describing the situation as unfortunate and damaging to Nigeria’s democratic reputation. He called on the EFCC to uphold the principles of fairness, transparency, professionalism, and the rule of law in all its operations, irrespective of political affiliations, while urging relevant authorities to ensure that anti-corruption efforts remain free from political influence.
The EFCC has publicly stated its reasons for the action. However, Amb. Atseyinku’s remarks represent his personal views and criticisms of the commission’s decision.
