News
N3.5b debt: Court freezes Oyo govt’s accounts in 10 banks
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja has issued an order to freeze the accounts of the Oyo state government in ten commercial banks across the country.
The order was issued by Justice A. O. Ebong in a ruling on a proceeding initiated by ex-council chiefs in Oyo state, sacked on May 29, 2019 by Governor Seyi Makinde, and who in 2021 got a N4,874,889,425.60 judgment against Makinde and other officials/agencies of the state.
The other officials/agencies listed with Makinde as judgment debtors, by virtue of the May 7, 2021 judgment of the Supreme Court, are 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).
The garnishee proceeding is intended by the ex-council chiefs, led by Bashorun Majeed Ajuwon, to recover the balance of N3,424,889,425.60 (N3.5b) which is outstanding from the actual judgment sum, from which Makinde paid only N1.5m in 2022.
What was outstanding in respect of the Supreme Court judgment was N3,374,889,425.60, but the Court of Appeal in Abuja added N50million, which it awarded as cost against Makinde and others in a judgment on December 8, dismissing their appeal.
The banks in which the Oyo State Government’s accounts are blocked are 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.
Justice Ebong, in the ruling on a motion marked: BW/M/85/2023, ordered the garnishees (the banks) to “file affidavits and attend this court on the next adjourned date to show cause why the garnishee orders nisi hereby granted should not be made absolute.”
The judge awarded N300,000.00 as cost against the judgment debtors; ordered that a copy of the order be served on Makinde and others and adjourned till January 5 next year for hearing.
On May 7, 2021 when the Supreme Court gave judgment, voiding Makinde’s sack of elected Local Government Chairmen and Councillors in Oyo State, the apex court gave similar judgment in respect of Katsina State and ordered both states to pay the salaries and allowances of the effected ex-council chiefs.
Justice Ejembi Eko, who delivered the lead judgment in the Oyo State case, condemned the decision by Makinde to unlawfully sack the elected council chiefs before the end of their tenure.
Justice Eko said: “I will not conclude this appeal without commenting on the disturbing ugly face of impunity displayed by the Governor of Oyo State on 29th May, 2019 which is tantamounting to executive lawlessness, outrightly and vehemently condemned by this…
“Local Government Chairman and Councillors, being persons duly elected by the people cannot just be removed and their councils dissolved whimsically and arbitrarily by any other elected persons in clear abuse of their office and powers. It is not right in law and under the Constitution to do that.”
But, while the Katsina State Government has since paid its ex-council chiefs, who were unlawfully sacked, the Oyo State Government, under Makinde has failed to paid the ex-council chiefs he sacked before the end of their tenure, and which sack the Supreme Court voided in its May 7, 2021 judgment in the appeal marked: SC/CV/556/2020.
Lawyer to the ex-council chiefs, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN) had, during a hearing in the appeal filed by Makinde and others before the Court of Appeal, Abuja, told the court that some of his clients have died while others are suffering after they were unjustly sacked as elected council officials by Makinde, who he blamed for the delay in paying the judgment debt.
In a court document, the ex-council chiefs said: “As at date, we have lost 26 of our members, whose children are crying to the conscience of His Excellency (Makinde) for justice.
“Obviously, if His Excellency (Makinde) had paid our money within the six months expressly pledged by the immediate past Attorney General on his behalf, our deceased colleagues would have had little money to attend to the sicknesses that took most of them away.”
News
LASG reopens Abbatoir at Oko-Oba
The announcement was made by the State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab in a statement he personally signed.
image credit : arisetv
Lagos State Government on Friday night directed the immediate re-opening of the Abbatoir at Oko-Oba following the fulflment of sanitation and hygienic prescriptions by the operators.
The announcement was made by the State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab in a statement he personally signed.
Mr Wahab said that the operators have substantially complied with the minimum benchmark for the operations of abbatoirs in the state which was flagrantly flouted necessitating the closure.
He informed that part of the conditions for the reopening is that on a monthly basis, the ministry of the Environment and Water Resources officials will conduct a periodic inspection of the facilities at the Abbatoir.
He urged the operators to avoid unsanitary activities, waste mismanagement and unhygienic handling of animal products as they conduct their businesses.
It will be recalled that the Oko-Oba Abbatoir was shut by the State Government on June 20 following an inspection by top State officials which discovered a flagrant disregard of the laws guiding safe operations of abbatoirs in the state.
SignedKunle AdeshinaDirector (Public Affairs)June 27, 2025
News
Again, Vanguard’s Editor, Eze Anaba Emerges NGE President
The Managing Director of The Sun newspaper, Onuoha Ukoh, clinched the position of General -Secretary .
Anaba, who was the incumbent, was returned unopposed, a development attributed to his widely acknowledged record of administrative excellence.
THE Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) on Friday reelected Mr Eze Anaba – the Editor of the Vanguard newspaper, as the President, during their ongoing Biennial National Convention in Enugu.
Anaba, who was the incumbent, was returned unopposed, a development attributed to his widely acknowledged record of administrative excellence.
The Managing Director of The Sun newspaper, Onuoha Ukoh, clinched the position of General -Secretary .
Other elected officers include:
Deputy President: Sabastine Abu
Vice President, West: Karbi Alabi
Vice Presidents: Hamza Idris and Sheddy Ozoene
Treasurer: Iyobosa Uwugiaren
Assistant Secretary: Gabriel Fulajimi Akinadewo
Publicity Secretary: Charles Kanu
Earlier , the Chairman of Channels Media Group, Dr. John Momoh had said that there can be no security without justice, and no unity without progress.
Momoh, who was Chairman of the Convention said that there can be no progress within inclusion.
He pointed out that insecurity has reared its head in many of Nigeria’s regions, while the country had witnessed divisions across ethnic and religious limes, while economic hardship and rising frustrations have made the citizens ask tough questions about Nigeria’s future.
Momoh enjoined the media not only to report conflict, but to also spotlight solutions. “Let’s promote understanding. Let’s be bridge-builders’, he said.
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has resigned as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with immediate effect.
Ganduje, who previously served as the Governor of Kano State from 2015 to 2023, cited health reasons for his resignation, stating the need to focus on his personal well-being.
His tenure as APC chairman, which began in August 2023, was riddled with internal party crises, legal disputes, and allegations of financial misconduct.
While his resignation letter attributed the move solely to health concerns, party insiders suggest rising political tension and internal opposition may have influenced his decision.
There have also been reports linking his exit to accusations of financial impropriety.
Some party members allegedly protested against what they described as “excessive financial demands” from his office—particularly over complaints by aspirants for FCT area council positions about the high fees required to secure party tickets.
Ganduje’s leadership faced multiple legal challenges. In April 2024, a Kano State High Court issued an ex parte order barring him from identifying as a party member, following a suit filed by some APC officials.
Although a separate suit filed by the APC North Central Forum seeking his removal was later dismissed by a Federal High Court in Abuja, his position remained contentious.
As the APC is yet to issue an official statement, speculation continues to mount over the true circumstances of Ganduje’s departure and its potential implications for the party’s future direction.
LASG reopens Abbatoir at Oko-Oba
Again, Vanguard’s Editor, Eze Anaba Emerges NGE President
BREAKING: Ganduje Resigns as APC National Chairman with immediate effect
Tech Expert, Zuckerberg trains with UFC champions, Adesanya, Alexander
Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu bags 10 years in UK prison
SAINT OBI: Between his marriage and his death
-
Politics3 days ago2027 Election: INEC refuses to approve Jegas’ PRP Party (Full list of Applicants)
-
Sports3 days agoSuper Eagles Goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, to Establish Football Academy in Enugu
-
Business3 days agoMultiChoice reduces prices for DStv subscribers by 50%
-
Politics3 days agoPDP Postpone 100th NEC Meeting, Reinstates Anyawu National Secretary
-
News2 days agoMokwa flood victims get N1m each, Shop Owners N500k
-
News3 days agoJUST IN: No service extension for corper who criticised Tinubu – NYSC
-
Business3 days agoNigeria, Brazil rejig strategic alliance to boost trade, clean energy, agric, others at business forum
-
News3 days agoLagos Alerts Motorists on 110-Day Ogudu/Ifako Bridge Repairs