On Thursday, Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo issued an immediate order to freeze all state-owned bank accounts until further notice.

The governor also instructed commercial banks, as well as the heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, to comply with the directive without delay.

This announcement was made in a statement by Mr. Fred Itua, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary.

Governor Okpebholo emphasized that any violations of the order would result in severe consequences.

“All bank accounts with commercial banks have been frozen. Commercial banks must adhere to this order and ensure that no funds are withdrawn from the government’s accounts until further notice,” the statement said.

He also directed that all heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies ensure full compliance with the order without any further delays.

“Following the necessary investigations and reconciliations, the Governor will make the appropriate decisions on the next steps. For now, this order remains in effect,” the statement concluded.

The Chairman of Aguiyi Ironsi International Market Association, Chief Chukwuma Onyebinanma, is currently facing serious legal trouble over his alleged attempt to rig the upcoming market election. The Lagos State High Court has extended an earlier order barring him from conducting the election on November 16, 2024, due to concerns over his appointment of biased electoral committee members.

On October 8, 2024, Justice A.M. Lawal issued a ruling against Onyebinanma, prohibiting him from proceeding with the election. The court extended the order by another 21 days, as part of an interlocutory injunction filed under suit number ID/8580GCM/2024. This extension comes in response to claims that Onyebinanma has been actively campaigning and appointing electoral committee members in defiance of the court’s original ruling.

In addition to being barred from conducting the election, Onyebinanma is now facing possible jail time for contempt of court, after forms 48 and 49 were filed for his committal due to his alleged disregard for the court’s injunction.

The suit, filed by Kelechi Oputa, Emeka Ifeora, and Chimezie Eke, seeks to prevent Onyebinanma from proceeding with the election. The court’s restraining order explicitly prohibits any actions by Onyebinanma or his associates that could affect the election or be detrimental to the interests of the applicants.

The court’s ruling has paved the way for the Mushin Local Government to organize a peaceful election, and it has invalidated Onyebinanma’s appointed electoral committee. The order was issued to prevent any potential disorder in the market, where traders were concerned that Onyebinanma’s election would be manipulated in his favor.

Despite the court order, Onyebinanma allegedly ignored the injunction, continued appointing committee members, and distributed election forms to candidates, as his opponents stayed away due to the legal restriction. This has sparked celebrations among traders, who were aware that Onyebinanma’s actions were designed to secure a victory for himself.

Onyebinanma and his supporters were reportedly taken aback by the latest legal developments and were said to have planned to push forward with the election, allegedly even arranging for thugs to disrupt the market proceedings.

Security agencies, including the Police and DSS, have intervened, summoning the parties involved and urging them to adhere to the rule of law. It remains uncertain whether Onyebinanma will comply with the latest court order.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Nigeria on Saturday, marking the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the country in 17 years.

This visit comes at the invitation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

During his trip, Prime Minister Modi will engage in talks aimed at enhancing the strategic partnership between India and Nigeria and identifying new opportunities for deepening bilateral cooperation.

He is also expected to address the Indian community in Nigeria.

Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri G. Balasubramanian, emphasized the long-standing strategic ties between the two nations, which have strengthened since 2007, with growing collaboration in energy, defense, and economic sectors.

He added that over 200 Indian companies have invested more than $27 billion in critical sectors within Nigeria.

India and Nigeria share a strong development cooperation relationship, and Prime Minister Modi has prioritized Africa, with Nigeria being a central focus of India’s engagement in West Africa. This will be his first visit to the region, starting with Nigeria.

In a recent briefing, Periasamy Kumaran, the Special Secretary of Economic Relations and Development Partners Administration at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, discussed India’s commitment to the Global South, representing 85% of the world’s population.

He highlighted that India’s trade volume with Africa is valued at $100 billion, with cumulative investments exceeding $75 billion.

Kumaran also described India’s development partnerships as people-centered, tailored to specific needs, and expressed the country’s readiness to share its expertise across various developmental sectors.