₦30m Garnishee Order: Court Targets Ondo Government Funds In 16 Banks

The Ondo State High Court in Akure has issued a garnishee order nisi, freezing Ondo State Government funds in 16 commercial banks to enforce a ₦30 million judgement debt linked to a 2021 shooting by the Amotekun Corps operatives.

Justice Omolara Adejumo granted the order following an ex parte application by Tope Temokun Chambers, signed by Tope Temokun, Esq.

The law firm represents Mr. Oluwasegun Oluwarotimi, a commercial motorcyclist who lost his leg after being shot in August 2021 by Amotekun Corps members.

A 2023 High Court judgement awarded Oluwarotimi ₦30 million in damages for his grievous injuries.

The Ondo State Government and Amotekun appealed judgement, but the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, struck it out in November 2024 for incompetence, affirming the judgement of the lower court.

At the garnishee hearing, counsel A.E. Adegoroye pressed the court to direct banks to seize the sum from any state-controlled accounts, including those of agencies.

Justice Adejumo consequently ordered the banks and their Akure branch managers to attach the funds, file compliance returns, and appear to contest the order nisi turning absolute.

The affected banks were Wema, Providus, Globus, Fidelity, Zenith, First Bank, UBA, Access, Keystone, Ecobank, GTBank, FCMB, Sterling, Stanbic IBTC, Polaris, and Premium Trust.

Reacting, Tope Temokun Chambers hailed the ruling and vowed full enforcement.

“This father and breadwinner deserves justice after his life was shattered,” the firm stated.

It urged the state government to honour the court judgements swiftly, especially for vulnerable citizens harmed by security agencies, rather than draining public funds on appeals.