Business

N3.5bn debt: Court freezes Oyo govt’s accounts in 10 banks

The accounts of the Oyo State Government in 10 commercial banks in the country have been frozen.

The banks in which the state government’s accounts were blocked are Zenith Bank, United Bank of Africa (UBA), Wema Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, Ecobank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Access Bank, Polaris Bank, Jaiz Bank and Union Bank.

Justice A. O. Ebong of High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja issued an order attaching the accounts on Monday, December 18, 2023.

The order was issued in a ruling on a garnishee proceeding initiated by ex-council chiefs in Oyo State, who were sacked on May 29, 2019 by Governor Seyi Makinde.

The sacked local government chairmen and councillors had, in 2021, got a N4,874,889,425.60 judgement against Makinde and other officials/agencies of the state.

NNPCL targets 2m barrels of crude oil daily production in 2024

The other officials/agencies listed with Makinde as judgement debtors, by virtue of the May 7, 2021 judgement of the Supreme Court, are the Attorney-General, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Accountant-General of Oyo State, Speaker of the House of Assembly, the House of Assembly and the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC).

The garnishee proceeding was intended by the ex-council chiefs, led by Bashorun Majeed Ajuwon, to recover the balance of N3,424,889,425.60 (N3.5 billion) which is outstanding from the actual judgement sum, from which Makinde paid only N1.5 billion in 2022.

What was outstanding in respect of the Supreme Court judgement was N3,374,889,425.60, but the Court of Appeal in Abuja added N50 million, which it awarded as cost against Makinde and others in a judgement on December 8, dismissing their appeal.

Justice Ebong delivered the ruling on December 15 on a motion marked: BW/M/85/2023 but its certified true copy (CTC) was gotten on Monday.

He ordered the garnishees (the banks) to file affidavits and attend the court on the next adjourned date to show cause why the garnishee orders nisi hereby granted should not be made absolute.

The judge awarded N300,000 as cost against the judgement debtors; ordered that a copy of the order be served on Makinde and others and adjourned till January 5, 2024 for hearing.

The Star

Editor

Recent Posts

FG approves ₦1trn metropolitan rail project for Kano

The Federal Government has approved a ₦1 trillion Metropolitan Rail Service for Kano State to…

3 hours ago

Kano records five fire incidents within 24 hours

The Kano State Fire Service has confirmed that five separate fire outbreaks occurred in different…

6 hours ago

Fayemi denies reports of secret meeting with Kwankwaso

Former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has dismissed claims that he recently held a…

7 hours ago

PSC promotes AIG, 2 CPs, over 26,000 Inspectors

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of one Assistant Inspector-General of Police…

7 hours ago

Wike cautions JUAC against disobeying court orders

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cautioned FCT workers under the…

7 hours ago

Constitution amendment: Uba Sani pushes for reserved seats for women

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has called for the adoption of reserved legislative seats for…

7 hours ago

This website uses cookies.