The Central Bank of Nigeria was
granted permission to freeze the accounts of 20 #EndSARS campaigners after
linking the funds in their account to “suspected” terrorism activities.
This is according to a written
address in support of a motion ex parte filed by the Central Bank of Nigeria
before Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
However, in the case with suit
number FHC/ABJ/CS/1384/2020, the CBN made no mention of the fact that the 20
accounts were owned by persons involved in the #EndSARS protests.
The written address read in part,
“My lord, the nature of the transactions undertaken through the defendants’
accounts are of suspected terrorism financing in contravention of Section
13(1)(a)and(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention)(Amendment) Act, 2013 and
Regulation 31(2)(a)and (3)(b) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Anti-Money
Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism Regulations, 2013.”
In a supporting affidavit deposed
to by one Aondowase Jacob on behalf of the CBN, it was stated that the Head of
the Economic Intelligence Unit of the Governor’s Department, CBN, Joseph
Omayuku, had conducted an investigation on the accounts of the defendants and
other individuals and entities held with certain banks in Nigeria.
According to the affidavit, the
investigation showed that the owners of the accounts may have been involved in
terrorist activities.
It added, “There is a grave
allegation that the defendants are involved in suspected terrorism financing
via their bank accounts in contravention of the provisions of extant laws and
regulations. The aforesaid transactions undertaken by the defendants, using
their bank accounts, can cause significant economic and security harm to the
public and the Federal Republic of Nigeria if left unchecked.
“The applicant (CBN governor) is
thus desirous to have the court empower him to direct the freezing of the 20
accounts listed on the annexure to this application and all other bank accounts
held by the defendants.
“A freezing order of this
honourable court in respect of the defendants’ accounts would also enable the
investigation of the activities of the defendants to a logical conclusion with
a view to reporting same to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.”
The apex bank said unless the
order was granted, it would not be able to ensure that the money remained
intact, while investigations were ongoing.
The 20 accounts frozen by the CBN
are domiciled in Access Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Fidelity Bank, United Bank
for Africa and Zenith Bank.
The accounts were said to have
been flagged after they received money with the narration #EndSARS.
One of the #Endsars campaigners,
Bassey Israel, a pharmacist, who was in charge of the #EndSARS medical team in
Port Harcourt, had earlier stated that his account with Access Bank marked
003397XXXX had remained frozen since October 15.
Bassey said he learned of the
development when he visited the bank to find out the reason for it.
Israel said he was informed by a
bank officer that the directive came from the apex bank.
He said, “I am in charge of End
SARS medical team in Port Harcourt and we had people donating for medical
supplies, food, water, ambulance services, and these donations were made
directly into my account and of course these donations had End SARS
descriptions so I think that was how they were able to flag my account. I
noticed that on October 15, I was trying to make a debit transaction on my
account and noticed that there was a restriction.
“So, I called the bank and I was
told that there was indeed a restriction but I should go to any branch near me
and when I did so, the branch manager sent a mail to the branch where I opened
the account. The response to the mail was that there was a directive from the
CBN to restrict the account.
“The lady was surprised and even
asked me if I had any issue with the CBN and I responded that if I had any
issue with the CBN, I wouldn’t be in the bank in the first place, I would be on
the run. I asked what could be done and she gave me no answer. She had to show
me the mail on her computer which I read. It was directly from the CBN and it
read, ‘Place this account on PND.”
Another #EndSARS protester who
spoke on condition of anonymity said she had also been informed by her bank
that her account has been placed on ‘Post No Debit’.
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