In a bold move, Francis Nwifuru, the newly appointed Governor of Ebonyi State, has issued an order to freeze all bank accounts operated by the state government. Nwifuru, who was sworn in as the state’s fourth governor on Monday, wasted no time in implementing this directive, which was announced through a statement released by his spokesperson, Monday Uzor. The statement, which reached reporters on Tuesday, outlined the governor’s decision.
Uzor, who previously served as spokesperson for the former Deputy Governor of the state, Kelechi Igwe, was reappointed by the new governor shortly after his inauguration. According to the statement, all commercial banks housing these government accounts are required to comply with the freeze immediately.
The statement read, “His Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has directed the immediate freezing of all state government accounts held in various banks, effective from Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Consequently, the governor instructs the bank managers overseeing these government accounts to ensure that no payments are made until further notice.”
Governor Nwifuru, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, previously served as the Speaker of the State Assembly. He assumes office after the departure of Governor Dave Umahi, who successfully ran for the position of Ebonyi South District representative in the 10th Senate.
The freezing of the state government bank accounts marks one of the first significant actions taken by Governor Nwifuru, demonstrating his determination to implement financial reforms and establish control over the state’s finances. This decision is expected to have wide-ranging effects on the operations of various government agencies and service delivery until further instructions are provided by the governor.
