A Former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s investigation into the Osun State Government’s accounts, describing the presidential action as legally wrong.

Oyinlola said this on Tuesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, while commenting on the controversy surrounding the EFCC’s no-debit order on the state government’s accounts and the subsequent directive by the President for the restriction to be lifted.

The former governor said the EFCC was acting within its constitutional responsibilities when it placed restrictions on the accounts, arguing that the President should have allowed the commission to complete its investigation before intervening.

“Legally speaking, the EFCC was exercising its constitutional rights and duties.  So, for the president to step in it is illegal. When you have given the constitutional right to the body, let them exercise it. When it comes to the point where you exercise your prerogative or mercy, if they have been found guilty and sentenced, then you can exercise your right as the president”.

Oyinlola, who served as governor of Osun State between 1999 and 2003 and later as governor of Lagos State Military Government, however, rejected the suggestion that the EFCC’s action was connected to the conduct of the governorship election or the payment of salaries.

 He dismissed the suggestion that the EFCC’s restriction on the Osun State Government’s accounts was intended to prevent the state from accessing funds ahead of the governorship election, insisting that public funds should not be used to finance elections.

“The president doesn't want the state to have access to funds to execute the election. I don't think a state fund is meant to execute elections. That is my thought.”

Asked whether the freezing of the accounts and the transactions under investigation were election-related, he said: “ There is no institutional or constitutional powers for EFCC to stop payment of salaries.”

He argued that the President’s authority does not necessarily make every action taken under it legally valid, stressing the importance of allowing the EFCC to carry out its mandate independently.

“I'm only speaking to you about what is legal. I got called to bar in the year 2012, and I think I know a bit of law too. Yes, any words that comes out of the president is law but we cannot say that the action is legal. There are some senior advocates that have taken on Mr. President, that you are taking away the independence of that institution. Let them do their job.”

The former governor maintained that the EFCC’s action should be assessed against the constitutional mandate and rules governing the commission rather than political sentiments.

Responding questions on why the Osun accounts should be restricted and also criticised the endorsement of the APC governorship candidate, Oyinlola said: “The EFCC thing is outside the purview of those who are not engaged in the operation of EFCC. For us to adjudge whether EFCC was right or wrong, we need to address the objective, and the rules assigned by the Constitution to the operation of EFCC”. 

The issue also prompted questions over the decision to restrict the state government’s accounts, with comparisons drawn with the situation in neighbouring states.

He said: “talking about the EFCC to Unblock the account, I think in Ekiti state, there is nothing of such. Why is this now in osun state that the accounts of the state are being blocked?”

Responding to criticism over the half-salary policy associated with previous administrations, Oyinlola acknowledged that governments could make mistakes but said what mattered was taking corrective steps in the interest of the people.

“If we talk about HALFUSA (a word formed from half-salary) or no HALFUSA, yes, administration will make mistakes. And he has addressed it. He addressed the issue of non-payment of pensioners when I came in. Thousands of workers were sacked before I came in. I re-engaged all of them. So, whatever is going to be good for the people of the state, you do without applying any nepotism into your actions.”