#EndSARS Protest Hunt: Court Grants CBN’s Request To Freeze Accounts Of 19

Development may have contradicted claims of federal government that it was not after leaders of EndSARS protesters as the federal high court in Abuja was reported to have granted the request of the Central Bank of Nigeria to freeze the accounts of 19 individuals and a public affairs company linked to the #EndSARS protests.

The request, granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, was filed by the CBN on October 20.

Some of the affected individuals include Bolatito Racheal Oduala, Chima David Ibebunjoh, Mary Doose Kpengwa, Saadat Temitope Bibi, Bassey Victor Israel, Wisdom Busaosowo Obi, Nicholas Ikhalea Osazele, Ebere Idibie, Akintomide Lanre Yusuf, Uhuo Ezenwanyi Promise and Mosopefoluwa Odeseye.

Others are: Adegoke Pamilerin Yusif. Umoh Grace Ekanem, Babatunde Victor Segun, Mulu Louis Teghenan, Mary Oshifowora, Winifred Akpevweoghene Jacob, Victor Solomon, Idunu A. Williams, and Gatefield Nigeria Limited.

The court order, addressed to the head offices of Access Bank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, United Bank of Africa, and Zenith Bank, directed the banks to freeze forthwith all transactions on the 20 accounts on the list annexed to the CBN’s application as Exhibit A and all other bank accounts of the defendants/respondents for a period of 180 days pending the outcome of investigation and inquiry currently being conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Gatefield Nigeria Limited had earlier sued Access Bank Plc for allegedly blocking an account used to promote media coverage of the #EndSARS protests.

meanwhile, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed had denied any move by the federal government sanction those involved in the EndSARs protests even as it recently dismissed what it described as rumours that it placed #EndSARS protesters on a no-fly list.

Recall that Vanguard had reported of a member of of the Feminist Coalition, Modupe Odele, who said the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, stopped her from travelling out of the country.

The Feminist Coalition is the promoter of the #EndSARS protest, which raised about N147 million for the cause.

Odele, a lawyer who was actively involved in the campaign, offered legal aid to persons who were arrested during the demonstrations.

However, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, in a swift reaction on November 3, said the Federal Government did not put names of #EndSARS protesters on a no-fly list.