Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on Thursday, ordered the freezing of all bank accounts belonging to the state until further notice.
The directive said the freezing order is with immediate effect.
Governor Okpebholo also warned commercial banks, heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to comply with the order immediately without further delay.
The order was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Fred Ituah in Benin City, warning that anyone, including heads of MDAs and civil servants who flout the order will be severely punished.
“All bank accounts in all the commercial banks have been frozen. Commercial banks must comply with the order and ensure that not a dime is taken out of the confers of government until there is a further notice.
“Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies must comply with this order and ensure that there is a full compliance without any further delays.
“After the necessary investigations and reconciliations, the Governor will do the needful and decide on the way forward. For now, this order stands,” the statement read.
In the meantime, the Governor has asked the relevant government agencies to reverse the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to the Ministry of Works. The reversed identity of the ministry was conceptualized during the administration of the immediate-past governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
Governor Okpebholo said since no bridges or good roads were constructed by the administration of Obaseki, it is therefore absurd to maintain the ministry with such identity.
The statement therefore ordered relevant government agencies to implement the new order and immediately reflect the new name.
“It is funny how you can call a Government institution Ministry of Roads and Bridges. Ironically, no single bridge was built by the same administration. Not even a pedestrian bridge.
“In the coming days, we will look at more actions taken by the previous administration and more decisions will be taken that will be done in the best interest of the state,” the statement concluded.
