The immediate past chairman of the APC in Scandinavian Countries, AAyoola Lawal,says the intervention of President Bola Tinubu in the EFCC/Osun account freezing face off, demonstrates constitutional leadership and further preserved Nigeria’s image globally.
Lawal, who is the former Secretary of the APC Committee of Diaspora Chairmen, made this known in a statement in Lagos on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Tinubu on Thursday, directed the unfreezing of the Osun account after it was frozen by the EFCC on Wednesday.
Lawal commended the President for directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to return to court to vacate the order, freezing the Osun State Government’s accounts.
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According to Lawal, Tinubu’s directive reflects a profound respect for constitutional governance, the rule of law, and the independence of democratic institutions.
He noted that rather than seeking to override the judicial process, President Tinubu appropriately directed the EFCC to pursue the matter through the courts.
The party chieftain added that it reaffirmed the principle that judicial orders should only be varied or discharged through lawful judicial procedures.
“Even when the EFCC may have a case, many people in Nigeria and globally might have seen the account freezing as a political attack from the ruling party against the opposition, in the face of the upcoming Osun governorship election.
” The President’s intervention demonstrated mature and responsible leadership, particularly in light of the forthcoming election, ” he said.
Lawal observed that the fight against corruption remained an essential national priority.
He added that government institutions must also ensure that their actions did not inadvertently create perceptions capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process or democratic governance.
The party chieftain further emphasised that the President’s position should not be interpreted as interference with the statutory responsibilities of the EFCC.
He said this was because it reflected the responsibility of national leadership to ensure that pursuit of justice was balanced with imperative of preserving democratic stability, institutional credibility, and the public interest.
Lawal added that the President’s decision reinforced the principle that strong democracies were sustained when institutions operated within their constitutional mandates, respected judicial authority, and remained accountable to the rule of law.
The diaspora chieftain urged political stakeholders, public institutions, and citizens to support lawful and transparent processes while allowing the judiciary to determine legal questions independently.
He said: “Nigeria’s democratic progress depends on strengthening institutions through due process, dialogue, and fidelity to the Constitution.
“President Tinubu’s directive represents a thoughtful demonstration of leadership that prioritises constitutional order, democratic maturity, and national cohesion, while reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to justice, accountability, and the rule of law.
“After the election, the EFCC have a duty to pursue the assumed breaches to the end to justify its actions and to also prove to Nigerians that it was not overzealous.” (NAN)
