Despite Ikpeazu’s Financial Recklessness, Freezing Abia Account Was Frivolous — Udensi

A chieftain of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, Sir Chikwe Udensi has said despite the financial recklessness of the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, freezing all 27 bank accounts of the state by an Abuja High Court was frivolous and unwarranted.

Reacting to the recent PND placed on accounts belonging to the State Government following an order of the court, Sir Udensi an Interpol Systems Consultant during his appearance on Love FM programme, Open Parliament monitored by ABN TV, condemned the action which has since been reversed by the same Abuja Court.

“Such judicial recklessness ought not to be encouraged, we must have to make sure that if you want to do justice, there should be no hurry, you must make sure you put everyone on notice especially something that has to do with a sovereign state.

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“Abia is a state that is independent, acts on its own still within a federation, we are practicing a federal system where all the federating units are equal, you cannot give such an order from far away Abuja and expect that people should not react”, he said.

According to him lack of financial prudence of those at the helm of affairs in the state does not warrant giving orders that will not serve the purpose of promoting the welfare of citizens of the state.

He called on the judiciary to be fair and just, and avoid putting legal impediments that affect the finances of a state.

Justice Bello Kawu in an exparte motion no: M/6686/2023 had barred all the banks from dealing with representatives of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu pending the determination of the motion filed by Mr Uche Eni’s lawyer, Johnmary C. Jideobi, against the Accountant-General of Abia State, Uche Ihediwa SAN, the Commissioner for Finance and about 26 banks and financial institutions.

But in a motion of notice filed by Ihediwa last week, the state governor Governor Ikpeazu prayed the court to vacate the order made against the affected banks and financial institutions for want of jurisdiction and for being obtained mala fide (carried out in bad faith or with intent to deceive).

Ruling on the interim order, Justice Kawu held that it was meant to last for seven days and subsequently vacated it.

He also aligned with the submission of Ihediwa that civil servants should be paid.

“The Interim order is hereby vacated,” said Kawu while adjourning the main application to 27 day of April for a hearing.