Kenneth Okonkwo Accuses Tinubu of Using Corruption Agencies to Harass Opponents in Osun
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are not independent under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He argued that the recent directive to unfreeze the Osun State account exposes Tinubu’s government as a repeated abuser of Nigeria’s anti‑corruption institutions.
The constitutional lawyer said the order is legally untenable, although it may appear morally understandable.
He wrote: “Even though the order from President Tinubu to the EFCC to unfreeze the Osun State account might seem morally reasonable, it is not legally correct.”
The directive, he said, shows what many Nigerians already suspect – that Tinubu repeatedly uses corruption and independent agencies to unfairly target and harass his political opponents.
His claim that he was unaware of the EFCC action supports Cardinal Onaiyekan’s view that those close to Tinubu present a false‑positive picture of the nation’s situation.
The bishops visited him to explain the reality; Tinubu should thank them and reprimand his aides. He stated that INEC is neutral, instructed the ICPC to investigate Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, and today ordered the EFCC to unfreeze an account it had previously frozen.
These actions demonstrate that none of the federal institutions operates independently under Tinubu. Eternal vigilance is the only way to curb his interference in the work of supposedly independent bodies.
Under Tinubu, the rule of law is weakened, but Okonkwo predicts that Nigeria will experience a significant change by 2027.
