CBN SECURES ORDER TO FREEZE ACCOUNTS OF 20 #ENDSARS PROMOTERS

 

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), the go ahead to freeze the accounts of 20 promoters of the #EndSARS protests, following an ex-parte order the CBN filed through a team of lawyers led by a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Michael Aondoakaa, Senior Advicate of Nigeria (SAN).

Brave Views gathered from reliable sources that the Certified True Copy of the order the Court obtained, revealed that the application to freeze the accounts domiciled in various commercial banks was made on October 20, some days after the CBN had already directed banks to move against the alleged EndSARS promoters.

In the ruling that was delivered by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, the court specifically granted the CBN leave to freeze all the accounts till January 2021.

The 20 alleged #EndSARS promoters that were listed as Defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1384/2020, are; Bolatito Oduala, Chima Ibebunjoh, Mary Kpengwa, Gatefield Nigeria Limited, Saadat Bibi, Bassey Israel, Wisdom Obi, Nicholas Osazele, Ebere Idibie, Akintomide Yusuf, Uhuo Promise, Mosopefoluwa Odeseye and Adegoke Emmanuel.

Other include Umoh Ekanem, Babatunde Segun, Mulu Teghenan, Mary Oshifowora, Winifred Jacob, Victor Solomon, and Idunu Williams.

The court ordered that their accounts should be frozen for an initial period of 90 days, which however subject to renewal upon an application by the CBN.

The court said the order was to allow CBN to conclude its investigations.

Justice Mohammed held that: “A mandatory order is made empowering the plaintiff/applicant to direct the head office of the banks involved to freeze forthwith all transactions on the 20 bank accounts listed for a period of 90 days pending the outcome of investigation and inquiry currently being conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“It is, however, directed that the 90-day freezing order, when it lapses, may be renewed upon good cause shown by the applicant.

“It is also directed that any person, whether artificial or natural, that is affected by this order may apply to the court to have his grievance or complaint heard by the court. The suit is adjourned till February 4, 2021.”

It will be recalled that several persons that participated in the #EndSARS protest had recently raised the alarm over their inability to have access to their bank accounts, with others lamenting alleged seizure of their travelling documents by the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, so as to stop them from leaving the country.

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