The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has ordered the immediate freezing of all state-owned bank accounts until further notice, News About Nigeria reports.
The decision, according to the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Fred Itua, in a statement released on Thursday, is to allow for proper investigation and reconciliation of accounts.
In the statement, Okpebholo charged commercial banks and heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to comply with the order without delay.
Governor Okpebholo also warned that anyone who flouts the order will be severely punished.
The statement partly reads, “All bank accounts in all commercial banks have been frozen. Commercial banks must comply with the order and ensure that not a dime is taken from the coffers of the government until further notice.
“Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies must comply with this order and ensure full compliance without any further delay. After the necessary investigations and reconciliations, the governor will take appropriate action and decide on the way forward. For now, this order stands.”
Itua, in the statement, also revealed that Governor Okpebholo has ordered relevant government agencies to reverse the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to the Ministry of Works.
According to the governor, the name used by the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki was ill-fitting, as no bridges or good roads were constructed by the administration.
“It is funny how you can call a government institution the Ministry of Roads and Bridges. Ironically, not a single bridge was built by the same administration—not even a pedestrian bridge. In the coming days, we will review more actions taken by the previous administration, and further decisions will be made in the best interest of the state,” the statement quoted Okpebholo.”
