Gov Okpebholo Freezes Edo Government Accounts

Governor Okpebholo’s decision requires strict compliance from all commercial banks, ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in the state.

Benin City, Nigeria – Monday Okpebholo, Edo State Governor, Freezes State’s Bank Accounts with Immediate Effect.

The directive, announced on Thursday through a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, mandates that these accounts remain inaccessible until further notice.

Governor Okpebholo’s decision requires strict compliance from all commercial banks, ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in the state. The governor warned that any failure to adhere to the order would lead to severe consequences.

“All state bank accounts with commercial banks have been frozen. Commercial banks must comply with this order and ensure that not a single naira is withdrawn from government coffers until further notice,” the statement read.

The directive further instructed the heads of MDAs to enforce the order immediately. “Following necessary investigations and reconciliations, the governor will take appropriate action and decide on the way forward. For now, this order remains in effect,” the statement added.

In a related development, Governor Okpebholo has directed the reversion of the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to its previous name, the Ministry of Works. This change reverses a decision made under the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.

“It is odd to name a government institution the Ministry of Roads and Bridges, especially when not a single bridge was built by the previous administration — not even a pedestrian bridge,” Okpebholo stated. He emphasized that further scrutiny of the past administration’s actions would continue in the coming days, with decisions made in the best interests of Edo State.