Dare Babalola
A Magistrate Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has barred United Bank for Africa (UBA) from conducting business transactions with individuals claiming to be local government chairmen in the state.
This order was made pending the conclusion of an ongoing criminal trial involving senior UBA officials.
The court had issued bench warrants for the arrest of top UBA officials, including Group Managing Director Oliver Alawuba, Group Legal Adviser Billy Odura, and Deputy Managing Director Chukwuma Nweke, for allegedly failing to honor court summons.
The officials are accused of allowing unauthorised accounts to be opened for Osun State local government councils.
The Osun State Government had filed charges against UBA and its officials, alleging they opened and operated unauthorised accounts for local government funds.
The state government claims the accounts were opened to allow unauthorised persons to operate and maintain them, contravening financial regulations.
The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) has commended the Osun High Court for granting an order to quash the criminal charges against UBA staff.
The APC in Osun State also lauded the judiciary for granting leave to quash the case.
The dispute revolves around control of local government funds, with the Osun State Government insisting that the APC chairmen are not legitimate.
