Metro

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

Published

10 months ago

November 11, 2024

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.

“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.

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.

“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.

“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

Army Kills Notorious Bandit, Babangida, In Kogi

Published

22 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Troops of 12 Brigade Nigerian Army under Operation ACCORD III, in conjunction with Other Hybrid Forces (OHF), have killed Babangida Kachala, a notorious bandit and second-in-command to Kachala Shuaibu, the leader of a bandit group operating within Masalaci Boka and Ofere Forest areas of Kogi State.

The Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Hassan Abdullahi Lieutenant in a statement issued on Saturday and made available to newsmen, said on 11 September 2025, following credible intelligence on the movement of bandits within Ofere Forest and Ayetoro Gbede general area, the combined troops laid an ambush at a suspected bandit crossing point.

The statement read: “Although initial contact was not made, the troops, while withdrawing to base, ran into an ambush staged by the criminals along their route.

“In the ensuing firefight, the gallant troops engaged the bandits with superior firepower, neutralizing one of the criminals. The troops thereafter exploited the area, during which they recovered 1 fully loaded magazine, 31 mobile phones, a blood pressure machine, packs of Tramadol tablets, fetish charms, and the sum of ₦16,000 cash. Bloodstains observed at the scene further suggested that several other bandits escaped with gunshot wounds.

“Subsequent intelligence confirmed that among those who fled with gunshot wounds was Babangida Kachala, a notorious bandit and second-in-command to Kachala Shuaibu, the leader of a bandit group operating within Masalaci Boka and Ofere Forest areas of Kogi State. He was later confirmed dead.

“Troops of 12 Brigade under Operation ACCORD III continue to dominate the area of responsibility with patrols and ambushes aimed at totally decimating bandits and other criminal elements within the boundaries of Kogi State. The morale and fighting efficiency of the troops remain high as they sustain unrelenting pressure on the criminals.

“The Nigerian Army reassures the good people of Kogi State of its determination to restore lasting peace and security, while encouraging citizens to provide timely and credible information to aid ongoing operations.”

Metro

Two Bodies Recovered From Yaba Building Collapse

Published

22 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Photo: File copy

Yaba building collapse
Two male dead bodies have been recovered from a three-storey building that collapsed under construction on Friday night at Yaba, a suburb of Lagos.

Mrs Ibitayo Adenike, Acting Head, National Emergency Management Agency (Lagos Operations Office), disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

NAN reports that so far, two dead bodies have been recovered, while four persons have been rescued and are currently receiving treatment.

Adenike said that the building at No 333 Borno Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, collapsed on Friday night by 8.30 p.m. trapping several persons.

She added that search and rescue operation was still ongoing.

She noted that the number of people still trapped under the rubble could not be determined until the building was completely brought down to ground level.

She listed emergency responders at the scene to include the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Building and Control Agency, the Nigeria Police Force, among others.

Metro

My Ex-wife Refused To Pack Out Of My House After Our Marriage Was Dissolved, Man Tells Court

Published

1 day ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

…I contributed N650,000 to the building of the house —Wife

…You’re now a tenant and trespassing, move out, court orders woman

A man, Quadri, has dragged his ex-wife, Gbemisola, before Grade A Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, on the account of illegal possession of his properties, a three-bedroom apartment she was living in and also his shop, where she displayed her goods.

Quadri stated that Gbemisola had been in possession of these properties for more than one year, after the court had pronounced their wedlock dissolved.

According to Quadri, since they were no longer husband and wife, he regarded Gbemisola as either a tenant or a trespasser.

He further stated that he served

Gbemisola notices to quit but that she remained adamant.

The plaintiff thus prayed the court to rule that the defendant should vacate both his house and shop without delay.

Quadri in his testimony said: “My marriage to my wife was pronounced dissolved by this honourable court last year August after I brought a divorce suit against her as a result of her atrocities which I could no longer tolerate.

“The court declared that we ceased to be husband and wife and ordered that we go our different ways.

“My lord, my ex-wife has refused to obey the court’s ruling.

“She insisted that she would neither move out of my house nor pack her wares from my shop.

“I raised these buildings through my sweat, but she is now laying claim to them.

“I enlightened my ex-wife in line with the law that she has automatically become a tenant or regarded as trespassing on my property since our marriage has been dissolved, but she obviously did not realise the gravity of these offences.

“I served her quit notices, but she remained adamant.

“My lord, I came to court that it might rule that my ex-wife vacates my three-bedroom apartment and shop without delay.”

Gbemisola, however, refused to be addressed as a tenant.

The defendant explained that she and the plaintiff both contributed financially to the construction of two properties he was now solely laying claim to.

Gbemisola insisted that the properties be sold and the proceeds from the sale shared among her, her ex-husband, and their children.

Gbemisola said in her evidence: “I refused to be addressed as a tenant in the house I contributed my hard-earned money towards its building.

“The two properties my husband is laying claim to are products of our joint efforts, so I cannot be referred to as trespassing.

“He bought the land for N700,000, while I contributed three times towards the building project.

“I contributed N200,000, N150,000 and N300,000 respectively.

“I visited the site at three different times to inspect the construction work going on at that time.

“I did not document the amount I contributed and those of other expenses because I did all I did out of love, and also for the sake of our children.

“He wants me to vacate the said apartment and shop because he wants to remarry.

“He wants to cheat me, and I will not allow it.

“My lord, I pray that the court should rule that we sell both properties and share the proceeds from it into three.

“He will take a share, I will take mine, and our children also will have theirs.”

The court president, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, giving her judgment stated that the defendant had no right to still be in possession of both property, the three-bedroom apartment, and shop since the court had dissolved their union after the plaintiff dragged her to court, laid claims against her and judgment was given after the court had heard both parties.

According to Akintayo, a landlord has unfiltered legal right to terminate a tenancy upon giving adequate notices.

She added that it is a settled position of law and requirement of the law that a landlord can claim possession of a premise once the required statutory notices have been issued and served on the tenant.

Akintayo ruling said, “The court hereby orders the defendant to vacate the three-bedroom apartment and shop on or before September 12,2025.”