Rift between Oyo State government and the immediate past chairmens in the state under the aiges of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Oyo State chapter has taken a new dimension as High Court sitting in Ibadan has rejected ALGON plea to freeze the bank account of the state government.
Hon. Justice Adegbola of Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, had on Monday, struck out application filed by Hon. Abass Alesinloye’s led ALGON against Oyo state government to freezed the state Government’s bank Accounts by way of Garnishee Order Nisi pursuance to the judgement of the Supreme Court for lack of merit.
The immediate past ALGON in the state had earlier approached the Court to freezed Oyo state government bank accounts and also pay its members an estimated sum for their dissolution.
The defendants in the state which include the governor of the state, Seyi Makinde, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Com. for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and Accountant-General for the state.
Others are Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, and Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC ).
Counsel to Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Tunji Ogunrinde while speaking with journalists on the ruling delivered at High court 6, Ring Road, Ibadan stated that the court in its reasoning struck out their application for being incompetent and uncertain.
According to him, the immediate past ALGON in the state prayed for payment of the sum of Seven Billion, Three Hundred and Thirty Five Million, Seventy Two Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety Seven Naira, Sixty Nine Kobo ( N7,335,072,997.69) before the court, which could not be traced in the judgement delivered by the supreme Court.”
“On their part, they incorporated constituency allowance, utility, accommodation, security vote and entertainment.”
“The State governmen, having understood the supreme Court judgement, did its computation for salaries and allowances, and came up with the sum of Three Billion, One Hundred and Seventy Million, One Hundred and Eighty Three Thousand, Fourty Nine Kobo(3,170,183,523.49) and the government is ready to pay.”
“My Lords in their wisdom did not specify amount to be paid in the Supreme Court judgement, and for payment to be made, it must be liquidated.”
“It is on this premise that that the court struck out their application for incompetent and uncertain, and ordered for reconciliation of figure by both parties.”
Ogunride hinted that the Oyo State government had paid the sum of Twenty Million Naira ( N20,000,000) as cost based on the Supreme Court judgement, stressing that the action postulates the readiness of the government to pay its creditors.
He added that the government has always shown willingness to comply with the judgement of the supreme Court at previous meetings and negotiations being attended by counsel to parties in the suit.
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