… It can cause unrest–State Govt warns
… Count me out–Otti
All bank accounts belonging to Abia State government domiciled in about 27 banks have been frozen by a Federal High Court, Abuja. The freezing order was given by Justice Bello Kawu last week while granting an Exparte Order request brought before the Court by one Mr Uche Eni.
The ex-parte motion no. M/6686/2023 was filed for the claimant by his Lawyer, JohnMary C.Jideobi against the Accountant-general of Abia the Commissioner for Finance.
The suit also listed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federation Accounting Committee (FAAC), Accountant-general of the federation as respondents. Other respondents in the suit were Access bank PLC, Ecobank PLC, Guaranty Trust bank PLC etc.
The Court in granting the Exparte order, barred all the banks from cooperating with the financial aids of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu pending the determination of the motion. Reacting to development, Abia State government described the Court order as Kangaroo, saying that those who procured the Court order were out to cause civil unrest in Abia.
This was contained in a press release by Dr Eze Chikamnayo, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy. In another press release signed by Chikamnayo, he accused Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti and his Labour Party of being behind the freezing of Abia’s accounts.
The Information Commissioner accused Otti of allegedly employing lies and propaganda against the incumbent government of Governor Ikpeazu.
He allayed the fears that civil servants and contractors may not be paid, assuring that payment of March salaries had commenced in the State. “Happily, despite the primitive draconian tactics of the confused and presumptuous Labour Party mob, government has commenced the payment of current salaries; so nothing can be more Dec than this kind of chicanery”, Chikamnayo said. Alex Otti in his own reaction denied knowing or sponsoring the man that obtained the account freezing order against Abia State government.
Otti whose denial was made known by Ferdinand Ekeoma, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, urged the Ikpeazu government to count him out of his travails. Otti alleged that Abia State government was pointing fingers at him as a subterfuge to evade payment of civil servants, pensioners and contractors.
A financial expert, Dr Aloy Azubuike said the effects of the accounts freezing would be felt in entire Abia economy unless the matter is withdrawn from Court by the claimant or set aside by the efforts of the respondents. The finance expert argued anything short of that may produce economic tension in Abia.
“Payment of March salaries as announced by Chikamnayo is respite for workers but the remains that this ex-parte Order was given by last week of March, about 12 days after the money from FAAC had already been disbursed to States.” Dr Azubuike pointed out that if Abia State’s allocations from the federation accounts for the month of April and beyond may not be released unless the order of Abuja High Court is set aside by respondents.
