Following the impeachment of the 18 local government chairmen by the legislative arm of the various councils, the solicitors to the embattled chairmen have warned commercial banks against tampering with the official accounts of the councils.
Arogidigba Global Journal reports that Oluwole Osazee Uzzi, the immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Edo State, gave the warning in a notice sent to all banks in the country through his law firm, Uzzi Law Company, on behalf of the 18 Council Chairmen.
Uzzi said the warning was a result of the Edo State House of Assembly’s purported suspension of the democratically elected local government chairmen and deputies in 2024.
The former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state averred that banks dealing with unauthorized individuals or groups would face severe legal consequences.
He said the legal consequences include contempt of court, violating subsisting court orders, and disregarding the injunctions of the Supreme Court and the Edo State High Court.
He urged banks to ignore attempts to open new accounts or operate existing ones without written authorization from the elected chairmen.
“This authorization must be duly backed by the 18 LGAs’ elected chairmen. The implications of ignoring this warning are severe.
“Banks risk facing legal action, damaging their reputation, and compromising their relationship with the local government councils.
“In light of this development, it is essential for banks to exercise extreme caution when dealing with the accounts of the 18 LGAs.
“They must verify the authenticity of transactions and ensure that they are authorized by the rightfully elected chairmen,” he stated.