Metro
Ondo Gov Poll: Customers Blame Parties As Banks Run Out Of Cash

In less than a week to the Ondo State governorship election, residents are feeling the pinch of severe cash shortages in commercial banks across the state.
The PUNCH gathered that politicians from the major political parties had been making large withdrawals from banks and stockpiling cash to buy votes.
It was learnt that customers who wanted to withdraw money over the counter were given less than what they requested because of the unavailability of cash in commercial banks across the state.
A source in a new generation bank disclosed that the politicians had been withdrawing millions of naira from banks in the last one week.
They were alleged to be colluding with bank managers to make the withdrawal easy.
The source said, “In the past few weeks, there has been a high flow of cash in the state because politicians, particularly members of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party have colluded with bank managers to withdraw huge amounts of money daily. When the politicians ‘settle’ the bankers, they permit them to withdraw as much as they want. I can tell you authoritatively that the politicians are withdrawing millions of naira in cash from the banks, with the assistance of the managers.
READ ALSO: Ondo Poll: APC Group Backs SDP Candidate, Rejects Aiyedatiwa
“That is why we don’t have much cash to give customers. If you go to banks now, little cash is available in all their branches across the state. They are withdrawing money for their logistics in the campaigns and also keeping the money to buy votes on election day.”
Some bank customers, who spoke to our correspondent, said they had been finding it difficult to withdraw money across the counter.
While blaming politicians, the residents stated that the bankers informed them that they had little cash available in their branches.
A customer, who identified himself as Tunde, said he was disappointed to reach one of the commercial banks in Akure on Thursday only to be informed that he could not withdraw more than N10,000 from the counter.
He added that the bankers advised him to go out and withdraw from the Point-of-Sale machines outside.
“I was surprised that when I got to my bank on Thursday to withdraw N50,000, the man at the counter told me that cash was not available and that they couldn’t give me more than N2,000 cash. I was angry and I asked him the reason; they told me they didn’t get much cash from the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria),” the customer lamented.
READ ALSO: Ondo Poll: APC, PDP In Verbal War Over Candidates’ Debate Performance
Another bank customer told The PUNCH that it had been a problem getting cash from the banks in Ondo State.
He said he was given the sum of N10,000 from his bank recently when he wanted to withdraw N30,000. Later, he was asked to go and use PoS for the remaining.
“I use one of the new generation banks. I got there to withdraw N30,000 cash to settle some bills but I was told I could only be given N10,000 as the highest I could withdraw from the counter. I asked the reason for this, but the only answer I got was little cash was available in the branch for customers,” he added.
A manager of one of the branches of a commercial bank, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the development.
He said little cash was left in the banks for customers to withdraw after politicians mopped up huge amounts of money from the banks.
The source said, “As a matter of fact, even before now, the amount of money in circulation is very low generally, not only in Ondo State, but there is a way we adequately manage the available money given to us. That is not known to the public. For instance, the CBN in Akure has mandated all the banks in its domain that you cannot withdraw (from the CBN) more than twice within two weeks, unlike before that we will go there Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to withdraw cash. But now, they are dealing with us two times a week.
READ ALSO: Ondo Poll: INEC To Deploy 4,814 BVAS, Okays 700 Journalists
“Then, on the withdrawal by politicians, it is not a lie. It is really happening. It is not limited to only one bank but virtually all the commercial banks in the state. There are some locations that per week, they mop up close to N300m, N200m. You can see that when that one is gone from a branch, there is no way you can serve an ordinary man who wants to withdraw N50,000, N100,000. It is very unfortunate.”
Another source alleged that the chieftains of all political parties approached banks for cash, but the ruling APC and the PDP were most responsible for the cash crisis in Ondo banks.
“They withdraw huge sums to keep for vote-buying on the election day,” he added.
Reacting, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kennedy Peretei, denied the allegations, saying the main opposition party did not have the money to buy votes.
He said the popularity of its candidate and that of the party were enough to win the poll.
READ ALSO: 200 Pupils Receive Instructional Materials From Esohe Foundation
“The PDP does not need to buy votes to win this election. The antecedents and scorecards of the governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, and his deputy can easily see us through the election. Therefore, the allegation is not true as far as the PDP is concerned. However, l cannot speak for the APC which may be relying on vote-buying to cover up their poor performance in government,” he stated.
The Director of Media and Publicity of the APC, Mr Steve Otaloro, also denied the allegation, saying it was to tarnish the image of the party and its candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Otaloro said, “The claim that the APC chieftains have withdrawn large sums of cash from banks to buy votes in the upcoming governorship election on November 16 is a desperate attempt to tarnish our party’s image. Our party, the APC, is committed to conducting free and fair elections, and we have always adhered to the electoral laws and guidelines. We believe in the integrity of the electoral process and have faith in the Ondo State electorate to make informed decisions.
“In fact, our candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has expressed confidence in winning the election based on his outstanding performance and the party’s popularity in the state. We urge the opposition party to focus on issue-based campaigns rather than spreading false information.
“We challenge anyone to provide concrete evidence to support their allegations. Until then, we consider these allegations as mere fabrications aimed at misleading the public. The APC remains committed to transparent and credible elections, and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the people of Ondo State receive the best representation they deserve.”
Metro
My Husband Started Coming Home Late, Dated Other Women After He Bought BMW

Kabushi Local Government, Zambia, has heard how a married man changed after buying a BMW vehicle as it gave him confidence to go after other women.
In this case, Veronica Chiluya 30, , sued Sammy Shapi, 40, for divorce due to marital disputes.
Veronica told the court that the two got married in 2014 after Sammy paid K400 as dowry and together they have two children.
READ ALSO:My Husband Comes Home With Used Condoms — Wife
According to Zambia Daily Mail, she said all was well until 2021 when her husband bought a car after he went to do some work outside the country.
“He started coming back home late and sometimes he would come the next day around 14:00 hours.
“He used to be a good husband, but the moment he bought a car, things changed in the house as he now started seeing other women.”
Metro
My Husband Seized My Wedding Gifts, Threw Me Out — Wife

…I’m sorry —Husband
A Sharia Court in Kaduna, Kaduna State, has dissolved a two-year-old marriage between a couple, Harira Sanusi and Aliyu Yunusa.
The judge, Malam Salisu Abubakar-Tureta dissolved their marriage following a petition for divorce filed by Harira.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Harira accused Aliyu of calling her parents names and humiliating her.
“He will often throw out my suitcases and other belongings.
READ ALSO:My Husband Does Not Give Me, Our Children Feeding Allowance —Wife
“He seized my wedding gifts and humiliates me,” she said.
She prayed the court to order Aliyu to allow her access to her belongings.
On his part, Aliyu who did not deny the allegations apologized to her in court.
Aliyu granted the request of Sanusi and made one pronouncement of divorce to her.
Metro
My Husband Threw Me Out After 17yrs of Marriage —Wife

…I still love her —Husband
A housewife, Lawal Modupe, has approached an Upper Area Court sitting at Kubwa, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), seeking the dissolution of her 17-year-old marriage to her husband, Ismaila on the grounds of lack of love and affection.
Modupe told the court that she got married Ismaila according to Islamic laws.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the mother of three stated that her husband sent her out of their matrimonial home on June 17, 2023.
READ ALSO:My Husband Wants To Take A New Wife, Threatens To Kill Me If I Refuse To Leave, Woman Tells Court
“I do not love him anymore and I want the court to dissolve our marriage,” she said.
The respondent, however, said that he still loves his wife and would not grant her request for divorce.
He pleaded with the court to call for a mediation involving his family and that of the wife.
READ ALSO:My Husband Does Not Give Me, Our Children Feeding Allowance —Wife
The judge, Mohammed Wakli, however, said that he still loves his wife and would not grant her request for divorce.
He pleaded with the court to call or a mediation involving his family and that of his wife.
The judge, Mohammed Wakili, however, advised the respondent to make efforts to win his wife’s love back and the couple two weeks to settle their differences and report back to the court.
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