By USMAN ALIYU

The solicitors to the 18 Local Government Council Areas in Edo, have cautioned banks, against tampering with the official accounts of the councils.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the warning, followed the suspension of the local government chairmen and their deputies by the state?s House of Assembly.

The warning Is contained in a notice sent to banks in the country, by Uzzi Law Company, acting on behalf of the 18 Council Chairmen, made available to news men in Benin on Thursday,

The notice signed by Oluwole Uzzi, said that dealing with unauthorised individuals or groups aside the duly elected local government council chairmen, would attract legal consequences.

He said this was because the banks would be seen to have violated subsisting court orders, and disregarding the injunctions of the Supreme Court as well as that of the Edo High Court.

Uzzi therefore urged the banks to ignore attempts to open new accounts or operate existing ones without written authorisation from the democratically elected chairmen.

This authorisation, he said, must be duly backed by the 18 elected council chairmen.

?The implications of ignoring this warning are severe, because you will not only risk facing legal action, but would have damage your reputation, and compromise your relationship with the local government councils.

?In light of this development, it is essential for you to exercise extreme caution when dealing with the accounts of the 18 LGAs,? he warned.

Uzzi also called on the banks to always verify the authenticity of every transaction, and ensure that it was authorised by the rightful elected chairman. (NAN)