Emmanuel Ochayi
In a turn of events, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja issued a decisive order, freezing the accounts of the Oyo State Government across ten commercial banks in Nigeria.
This action stems from an outstanding N3.5 billion judgment debt resulting from a protracted legal battle initiated by former council leaders in Oyo State.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“Today’s ruling is a critical step in seeking justice for our unpaid dues,” expressed Bashorun Majeed Ajuwon, leading the ex-council chiefs in their endeavor to recover the balance owed from Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.
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The genesis of this issue traces back to the dismissal of elected Local Government Chairmen and Councillors in 2019 by Governor Makinde, a move later deemed unlawful by the Supreme Court in its May 7, 2021 judgment.
The Supreme Court’s decision invalidated Makinde’s actions and ordered compensation for the affected council chiefs.
However, amidst the legal tug-of-war, Makinde had only disbursed a fraction, paying N1.5 billion of the owed amount in 2022, leaving a substantial outstanding sum. This prompted the ex-council leaders to pursue further legal recourse, resulting in the recent freezing of the state’s accounts.
Justice Anitte Ebong, presiding over the case, has instructed the banks involved to justify why the freeze order should not be made absolute.
Additionally, a cost of N300,000.00 has been levied against the judgment debtors. The court has scheduled the next hearing for January 5 next year.
This development follows a series of legal battles where both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal have censured Governor Makinde’s actions, highlighting the need for compliance with judicial directives and condemning what has been described as a disrespect for the nation’s legal system.
As this legal saga continues, the implications of this freeze on the state’s operations and efforts toward resolving the outstanding debt remain a matter of great concern.
