A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja issued an order freezing the Oyo State Government’s accounts in ten commercial banks across the country.
The decision was granted by Justice Anitte Ebong in a verdict on a garnishee case launched by ex-council chiefs in Oyo State, who were terminated on May 29, 2019, by Governor Seyi Makinde, and who obtained a N4.9 billion judgment against Makinde and other state officials and agencies in 2021.
The ex-council chiefs, led by Bashorun Majeed Ajuwon, set to use the garnishee action to recover the remaining N3.5 billion from the actual judgment sum, of which Makinde paid only N1.5 billion in 2022.
All the Oyo State Government’s accounts frozen include: 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.
In a ruling, Justice Ebong directed the banks to produce affidavits and appear in court on the next adjourned date to show cause why the garnishee orders nisi obtained herein should not be declared absolute.
The judge granted N300,000 in costs to the judgment debtors, ordered that a copy of the decision be served on Makinde and others, and adjourned the hearing to January 5, 2023.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling on May 7, 2021, which nullified Makinde’s removal of elected Local Government Chairmen and Councillors in Oyo State, the court also ruled in Katsina State, ordering both states to reimburse the affected ex-council chiefs for their salaries and benefits.
The lead judge in the Oyo State case, Justice Ejembi Eko, denounced Makinde’s decision to forcibly remove the elected council chiefs before the end of their tenures
Although the Katsina State Government has already compensated its former council chiefs who were fired illegally, Oyo state government under Makinde has failed to pay the ex-council chiefs he sacked, whose sack the Supreme Court nullified in its May 7, 2021 judgement.
