The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has ordered the freezing of Oyo State Government’s accounts in 10 major banks, following a ruling by Justice Anitte Ebong in a garnishee proceeding initiated by ex-council chiefs.
Sacked in 2019 by Governor Seyi Makinde, these council chairmen secured an N4.9bn judgment in 2021 against Makinde and state officials.
Led by Bashorun Majeed Ajuwon, they aim to recover the outstanding N3.5bn, of which Makinde paid only N1.5bn in 2022.
Banks affected include Zenith, UBA, Wema, First Bank, Ecobank, GTBank, Access Bank, Polaris Bank, Jaiz Bank, and Union Bank.
Justice Ebong has ordered banks to justify the garnishee orders on the next adjourned date and awarded N300,000.00 as costs against the judgement debtors.
The court adjourned the hearing until January 5 next year.
Despite a Supreme Court ruling voiding Makinde’s sack of elected Local Government officials in May 2021, the Oyo State Government has not paid the unlawfully sacked council chiefs, unlike Katsina State.
Justice Ejembi Eko criticised Makinde’s decision to unlawfully dismiss elected council chiefs before the end of their tenure.
