EKITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has allegedly ordered the state to stop transacting business with Zenith Bank.
The action is not unconnected with the face-off between him and Zenith on the freezing of his personal accounts domicilled in the bank by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to a circular from the Office of the Accountant General on Tuesday, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) must comply with the order within 48 hours.
The circular was addressed to the head of Service, permanent secretaries, general managers, administrative secretaries, heads of Non-Ministerial Departments and agencies and tertiary institutions.
The MDAs and institutions have begun implementation of the order to meet up with the deadline.
The circular, which was signed by the Accountant General, Mrs. O.O. Owolabi, is titled: “Stoppage of banking relationship with the Zenith Bank Plc.”
It reads: “The state government has directed immediate stoppage of all banking relationships with Zenith Bank.
“All Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are expected to adhere strictly to this instruction and sever transaction with the bank within 48 hours.
“By extension, workers’ salaries cease to be remitted to salary accounts domicilled with the bank forthwith. They are, therefore, advised to supply alternative bank accounts with their respective MDAs for transmission to this office within 60 days.
“Kindly, give the contents of this circular the widest publicity it deserves. The governor is poised to address the state on the matter in due course. Thank you.”
The fear of job loss has gripped Ekiti indigenes working in the bank, especially the main Ado-Ekiti branch on Secretariat Road and the campus branch at Ekiti State University (EKSU).
The workers are apprehensive of a repeat of the backlash of Fayose’s strained relationship with Ecobank, which led to the shutdown of the bank’s two branches.
Ecobank sacked scores of Ekiti indigenes following the government’s crackdown, and closed its operations.
The EFCC on May 24 froze two Zenith Bank accounts belonging to Fayose for alleged laundering of about N1.2 billion believed to be part of the arms fund from the ex-National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.)
The cash was allegedly released to the governor to fund his campaign in the 2014 governorship election.
Fayose claimed Zenith Bank funded his campaign but the bank denied the allegation.
The governor sued the EFCC and the bank at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, seeking an order to de-freeze the account, which the court declined.
The matter was adjourned till September 30.
The Nation REPORTAGE
Mtcheew what's our business? if he likes,he should shut down d entire zenith branch in the state...we don't care
ReplyDeleteSo Fayose cannot forgive Zenith, yet he calls out Buhari for witchunting. Is this not the same thing? Foolish man. You will now go and give workers ultimatum and plenty stress because you want to show ya self.
DeleteLook at how swift Fayose is acting to deal with zenith bank. If it is about Education or payment of salaries, he will become a snail.
DeleteAnumpama.
Na wa. When two elephants fight, the grass suffers. I pray they worked this out.
ReplyDeleteThe people that will suffer are Ekiti indigines working with Zenith bank cos they will be so sacked cos they were employed as part of the community development act. Non Ekiti staff will be re deployed. Shikena. So, Fayose, you are punishing your citizens. Jim Ovia will not suffer.
DeleteIs it not the civil servants that will suffer? Giving them ultimatum ontop what is not their business.
DeleteBefore nko?..,
ReplyDeleteI would do the same if it's me...
...but you will attack Buhari for going after some people. hypocrite!!!
DeleteAnon 10:19.God bless you.stinky hypocrite I tell u.mtchewww
DeleteIt might be true that the bank sponsored his campaign like he claimed. But the bank due to fear of the EFCC, denied it. They have no right to freeze d account of a current governor, it is against the Constitution. He is protected by "immunity clause". Which means all allegation should be withheld until he vacated from office. Nigeria politics, they claim we are using a written and rigid Constitution. But even those in power don't know the Constitution.
DeleteIs it also in the constitution to steal money from the people. It is very shameful how you lot look for a way to protect criminals, giving reasons why they should be left alone instead of being concerned if the money was stolen or not. Yet,this is a generation that wants to see change and better life. It is only suffering that awaits a generation as this.
DeleteNawa ooo
ReplyDeleteGhen Ghen. See trouble for Zenith bank. So what will they do? Interesting
ReplyDeleteIt is well. Fayose is vexing ...
DeleteBig loss for zenith bank. They should better go back and lay flat.
ReplyDeleteFor where, is it not better for Zenith bank to maintain the truth and lose only Ekiti? It is only a fool that will take sides with fayose and then lose the Federal govt salary earners. How many people bank with Zenith in ekiti sef? Do you know the percentage fed govt workers zenith has? Abeg! Sack all the ekiti people working in all Zenith bank branches across Nigeria make we see who lose.
DeleteWhen two elephant fights, it's the grasses that suffers. Which ever way the story turns out, it's still the masses that suffers for it. It's the masses that will be fired. The main people (FG and Fayose) have nothing to loose.
DeleteFayose!This will lead to the sack of the Ekiti indigenes in the Zenith Bank all over as you did to Eco bank.
ReplyDeleteExactly. It is his stomach infrastructure people that will suffer. The bank will sack majority of bank workers which comprise mainly of ekiti people.
DeleteExactly. It is his stomach infrastructure people that will suffer. The bank will sack majority of bank workers which comprise mainly of ekiti people.
DeleteWell Zenith should cut their losses in that state and move their business somewhere else. Too bad people are gonna lose their jobs but it is what it is. Ekiti state is always in the news for the wrong reasons.
ReplyDeleteNo surprises here. Even Zenith would have been expecting it. But regarding the salary accounts though, why should ur employer be the one to dictate where u bank? 3rd World issues.
ReplyDeleteIf it's a salary account, then your employer can do that. Same thing happened when I used to work with THIS DAY newspaper, they had problem with Gtbank which was our salary bank acc. We were asked to submit access bank account if we have, or open an access bank account if u don't have.
DeleteElder, it is totally wrong for an employer to do that. Ur salary account is ur personal business.
DeleteI hope this does not affect Ekiti indigenes as well. Tit for Tat.
ReplyDeleteStupid people. Tomorrow he will come and say that Buhari is on a vengeful mission. This is just one and he is already stressing the whole ekiti civil servants because he wants to revenge.
ReplyDeleteFor all of you that has called out Buhari for going after his enemies, God will keep disgracing all of you.
...and BTW, what does fayose expect Zenith bank to do? it was EFCC that froze the account, zenith kept quiet until people forced them to make a statement. You expect them to just cover up for you, why don't you provide the evidence that they funded your election? Abeg,it is better they lose ekiti state than lose FG salary workers. It is your Ekiti state indigenous bank that will be sacked. Others will be transferred out of the state. Forgiveness is not as easy as you think. Don't judge someone else when you cannot do same in the persons shoes.
thanks anonymous.
DeleteFayose can order the Ekiti State Givernemnt and MDG not to bank with Zenith Bank, he however has no right to say Workers Salaries cannot be remitted to a Zenith Bank account, that us unconstitutional!
ReplyDeleteEvery worker has a right to decide where he wants to receive his/her salary.
Exactly, this is just crazy. Even to open an account in some of these banks na stressful journey. You will now force someone to open an account in a bank he/she doesn't like.
DeleteVery very stupid thing.
It's the branch manager of Fayose's branch that I pity. He had better look for another job bcos it's loss he will declaring from now on. And then torture at MPR every month. In fact he will become a pariah.
ReplyDeleteZenith no send you ooo!!!
Yet Nigerians will say buhari is vengeful, fayose weldone o!
ReplyDelete