A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has issued an order freezing the Oyo State Government’s accounts in ten commercial banks throughout the country.
Justice A. O. Ebong delivered the judgment in a verdict on a garnishee case launched by ex-council leaders in Oyo State, who were fired by Governor Seyi Makinde on May 29, 2019.
The fired local government chairmen and councillors obtained an N4,874,889,425.60 judgment against Makinde and other state officials/agencies in 2021.
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) are also listed as judgment debtors by the Supreme Court in the May 7, 2021 judgment.
The ex-council leaders, led by Bashorun Majeed Ajuwon, sought to use the garnishee action to recover the unpaid amount of N3,424,889,425.60 (N3.5 billion) from the real judgment sum, from which Makinde paid just N1.5 billion in 2022.
The Supreme Court ruling was outstanding for N3,374,889,425.60, but the Court of Appeal in Abuja added N50 million as cost against Makinde and others in a judgment on December 8, dismissing their appeal.
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 are among the banks where the state government’s accounts have been frozen.
Justice Ebong issued the decision on a motion numbered BW/M/85/2023 on December 15, but the certified true copy (CTC) was released on Monday.
He directed that the garnishees (the banks) prepare affidavits and appear in court on the next adjourned date to demonstrate why the garnishee orders should not be declared absolute.
The judge awarded the judgment debtors N300,000.00 in costs, ordered that a copy of the decision be served on Makinde and others, and adjourned the case until January 5, 2024.