The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has issued an order to freeze the accounts of the Oyo State Government across 10 commercial banks in the country.
Justice Anitte Ebong issued the order as part of a garnishee proceeding initiated by former council chiefs in Oyo State who were terminated by Governor Seyi Makinde on May 29, 2019. These council chiefs secured a N4.9 billion judgment against Makinde and other state officials and agencies in 2021.
The garnishee proceeding, led by Bashorun Majeed Ajuwon and other ex-council chiefs, aims to recover the outstanding balance of N3.5 billion from the judgment sum. Governor Makinde had only paid N1.5 billion in 2022.
The affected banks where the Oyo State Government’s accounts are 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.
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In the ruling, Justice Ebong directed the banks to file affidavits and appear in court on the next adjourned date to show cause why the garnishee orders nisi should not be made absolute. The judge imposed a cost of N300,000.00 against the judgment debtors and ordered the service of a copy of the order on Governor Makinde and others. The court adjourned the hearing until January 5 next year.
The Supreme Court had on May 7, 2021, nullified Governor Makinde’s dismissal of elected Local Government Chairmen and Councillors in Oyo State, ordering both Oyo and Katsina States to pay the salaries and allowances of the affected ex-council chiefs.
While Katsina State complied with the order and compensated its unlawfully sacked council chiefs, the Oyo State Government, led by Makinde, has not fulfilled its obligation to pay the dismissed council chiefs despite the Supreme Court’s ruling.