Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has accused the promoters of the #EndSARS campaign of financing and supporting terrorism in the country, explaining that this was the reason for freezing their bank accounts for three months to allow for an investigation.
A few days ago, the apex bank obtained an ex parte order to place an embargo on the accounts of those believed to have campaigned vigorously for an end to police brutality and bad governance in the country.
For nearly two weeks, youths across the nation united to stage peaceful protests and when the government was getting too threatened by the agitations of the demonstrators, some hoodlums came and disrupted the actions.
Things got worse when some soldiers allegedly opened fire on protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos despite waving the Nigerian flag and singing the national anthem. This action sparked reactions from the globe.
The Governors of the 36 states of the federation set up panels to look into police brutality and in Lagos, the team was given an additional task of getting to the root of the Lekki shooting.
While the panel was taking place, news went viral that one of the members, Miss Rinu Oduola, has had her bank account frozen and this made the two youth representatives in the committee to pull out. This has made the team to suspend sitting.
The CBN, before getting the order to freeze the accounts of those who actively took part in the protest, informed the court in the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1384/2020, filed before Justice A. R. Mohammed, that owners of the 20 accounts to be blocked were involved in acts capable of causing economic and security harm in Nigeria.
“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,” the CBN noted.
“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 added.
