Taraba Crisis: Banks Shun Cheques Signed By Taraba Acting Governor

 Taraba State Deputy Governor Garba Umar


Banks are rejecting Taraba State transactions done by Deputy Governor Garba Umar. They have not honoured cheques tendered by the deputy governor seeking withdrawals from the treasury since ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai returned on August 25.


Umar, on Thursday, told banks that government’s financial transactions should be honoured only if they are in tandem with the provisions of the law. He said: “The instruments must contain verifiable signature of the Executive Governor of Taraba, Danbaba Suntai and verifiable signature of Alhaji Garba Umar, the Acting Governor of Taraba State.”

But a source said that a bank dishonoured a cheque tendered for withdrawal. The source said for now, the deputy governor can only make withdrawals from his personal accounts.

The state’s monthly federal allocations are channeled through Zenith Bank. The state also operates a Local Government Joint Account with United Bank for Africa (UBA). Over N23.3 billion is in the state’s treasury, it was learnt.


Credit Kevin Djakpor