Benue govt laments over Garnishee order against bank accounts

The Special Adviser, Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ken Achabo has described recent garnishee orders against bank accounts of the Benue State government as sabotage.

The Nation investigations have revealed that over 20 banks accounts belonging to Benue State are garnished.

On the eve of Christmas celebration, Benue State government through the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mike Gusa told reporters that the state was unable to pay salaries in the month of December because accounts were garnished on court orders .

This week again, the bank accounts of Benue State and local governments Joint Allocation and Account Committee ( JAAC) were garnished .

Achabo was served with the court garnishee order which amount to the tune of N1. 2b in addition to the one of N1.9b which is already in existence.

Reacting, the governor’s aide on Local Governments and Chieftaincy, described the trend as a deliberate ploy to frustrate the developmental stride of Governor Samuel Ortom.

He said the garnishee order are slowing down the space of governance and to the extend holding the administration of Governor Ortom to ransom.

He faulted the judicial process that produced such orders especially that most of these orders are obtained from Courts outside the State noting that it was the handiwork of a syndicate who were all out to fraudulently deprive the state of her hard earned resources and frustrate the positive efforts of the governor towards developing the state.

According to Achabo , with the current garnishee orders against the accounts of the Benue State Government, salaries of Benue workers and indeed all ongoing state projects may be stalled .

He directed the 23 local government councils to liaise with the State Ministry of Justice to find a solution to the current challenge the state is facing.