BY LINUS CHIBUIKE
THE Federal High Court, Abuja, has granted the Central Bank of Nigeria the approval to freeze the bank accounts of 20 promoters of the #EndSARS protests.
The apex bank obtained the approval to freeze the affected accounts, domiciled in Access Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank, United Bank for Africa, and Zenith Bank, till January 2021, in the first instance, following a motion ex parte it filed before the Federal High Court.
The accounts, the judgment said, had been frozen pending the outcome of investigation and inquiry currently being conducted by the CBN.
The 20 defendants 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, according to the suit marked “FHC/ABJ/CS/1384/2020”.
Others are Umoh Ekanem, Babatunde Segun, Mulu Teghenan, Mary Oshifowora, Winifred Jacob, Victor Solomon, and Idunu Williams.
Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), led the CBN’s team of lawyers.
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed, held, “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.”
The Point had reported that one of the promoters of the #EndSARS protest, Modupe Odele, said a few days ago, that the Nigeria Immigration Service prevented her from travelling outside the country.
She disclosed in a statement that she was detained on her way out of the country for a needed rest after the #EndSARS protests by immigration officials and her travel document seized.
This, according to her, made her miss her flight.
She indicated that the development was not unconnected with her role during the protests, saying that what she saw on the immigration portal indicated that she was under investigation by some intelligence agency.
-ThePoint
No comments:
Post a Comment