Abia State government says it has commenced the payment of current salaries to civil servants in the State, despite a court order freezing the State’s bank accounts
This was disclosed by Barr Eze Chikamnayo, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy.
Chikamnayo, who alleged that the Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti was responsible for the development, said the Okezie Ikpeazu administration would not fail to pay the salaries of over 29,000 workers before leaving.
He described the freezing of Abia State accounts as an attempt to take over the State by force and without respect to constituted authorities.
“Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, having dutifully met his obligation to over 29,000 workers out of 31,000 in the last seven years and more, does not have any desire or reason not to do the same in the only two months left of his administration.
“Happily, despite the primitive draconian tactics of the confused and presumptuous Labour Party mob, the government has commenced the payment of current salaries, so nothing can be more deceitful than this kind of chicanery”, said Chikamnayo.
It would be recalled that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, last week, granted an ex parte order freezing all the monies of Abia State government domiciled in about 27 banks.
The Order was granted by Justice Bello Kawu in an ex parte motion No. M/6686/2023, pending the determination of the motion.
The request was filed by Mr Uche Eni against the Accountant-General of Abia State and the Commissioner for Finance.
Other respondents are the Accountant General of the Federation, Federation Account Allocation Mobilization Committee, FAAC, and 21 financial institutions.
Alex Otti has so far denied being the brain behind the court order, adding that he did not even know the person who filed the case.