The Accord Party has called for the immediate resignation of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, following the commission’s decision to freeze the bank account of the Osun State Government.
The party also urged President Bola Tinubu to sack Olukoyede if he refuses to resign, accusing the EFCC of overstepping its statutory powers and violating the 1999 Constitution.
The controversy began after the EFCC announced on Wednesday that it had frozen Osun government accounts over alleged fraudulent handling of public funds.
The commission said it had been investigating the state government since March, during which some officials, including the Accountant-General, were questioned by investigators.
According to the EFCC, investigators observed what it described as huge transfers from the accounts to various corporate entities from August 2, while the investigation was ongoing.
However, the Osun State Government rejected the allegations. Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, described the EFCC’s explanation as an attempt to justify what he called an illegal action through unfounded allegations.
The matter escalated on Thursday when President Tinubu directed the EFCC to immediately return to court and vacate the order freezing the state government’s accounts.
Reacting to the development on Friday, August 7, at a press conference in Abuja, National Chairman of the Accord Party, Maxwell Mgbudem, said the EFCC leadership had lost the confidence of the party.
Mgbudem accused the commission of violating the Constitution and exceeding its legal mandate, while commending Tinubu for intervening in the matter.
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He said the President’s intervention prevented what could have become a further descent into lawlessness.
According to Mgbudem, the EFCC had brought “the nation to ridicule and disrepute before the international community”.
“Accordingly, Accord demands the immediate resignation of the EFCC chairman,” Mgbudem said.
“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.
“There should be no sacred cow in the quest to sanitise the anti-corruption commission in particular, and the democratic system in general.”
The party chairman also called on security agencies, anti-corruption bodies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to operate strictly within their statutory responsibilities and uphold democratic principles.
Mgbudem further appealed to President Tinubu and Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to secure the release of the remaining 60 Accord Party members reportedly detained in Abuja, Osun and Nasarawa states.