FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Edo State chapter has warned commercial banks not to conspire with the state government to alter the signatories of local government councils accounts.
Chairman of the State PDP Caretaker Committee, Dr Anthony Aziegbemi gave the warning while speaking with journalists in Benin City.
Aziegbemi, who alleged that the directive by Governor Monday Okpebholo to banks to change the signatories of the accounts of councils was to pave the way for the looting of funds.
He threatened that if any bank obeys the directives, the party would have no option than to drag it to court.
The chairman also alleged reports of illegal requests for sensitive council documents by unauthorised persons in the state.
According to him, “We are also witnessing another very disturbing trend, local government chairmen are signatories to the account of their various councils.
“What Governor Okpebholo and his cohorts are trying to do is to change the signatories of those accounts making sure that the elected chairmen that are supposed to be signatories to these accounts do not have access to it.
“We have also witnessed unauthorised attempts to alter signatories to local government accounts, as well as clandestine efforts to withdraw funds without a proper mandate.
“There are also reports of illegal requests for sensitive documents by unauthorised persons.”
Aziegbemi noted that the flagrant disregard for the judiciary and the subversion of the constitution by the Edo State government in the purported suspension of the 18 local government chairmen and their vice is a serious threat to democracy.
He added that the action would not only undermine the rule of law, but also create a dangerous precedent, weakening the entire legal and democratic system.
