Benue accounts unfrozen news
You're referring to the recent news about the Benue State Government's accounts being unfrozen by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
For those who may not be aware, the Benue State Government had been embroiled in a financial crisis due to the freezing of its accounts by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) in 2019. The accounts were frozen over alleged misappropriation of funds and non-compliance with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.
However, on February 24, 2023, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the unfreezing of the Benue State Government's accounts, citing lack of evidence to support the allegations of misappropriation.
According to reports, the court ruled that the freezing of the accounts was unlawful and unconstitutional, and that the state government had not been given a fair hearing before the accounts were frozen.
The Benue State Government has welcomed the court's decision, saying it is a major relief and a victory for the people of the state. The government has also promised to use the unfrozen funds to improve the lives of the people and to develop the state.
It's worth noting that the court's decision is a significant development in the ongoing financial crisis in Benue State, and it may have implications for other states that have also had their accounts frozen by the CBN and the AGF.
Here are some key quotes and reactions to the news:
- Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom: "This is a major relief and a victory for the people of Benue State. We will use the unfrozen funds to improve the lives of our people and to develop our state."
- Benue State Attorney-General, Michael Gusa: "We are pleased with the court's decision. It is a vindication of our position that the freezing of our accounts was unlawful and unconstitutional."
- CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele: "We respect the court's decision and will comply with it. However, we will also continue to monitor the state's finances to ensure that the funds are used for their intended purposes."
- AGF, Abubakar Malami: "We will study the court's decision and consider our next steps. However, we remain committed to ensuring that public funds are used transparently and accountably."
Overall, the unfreezing of Benue State Government's accounts is a significant development that may have far-reaching implications for the state and the country as a whole.