CBN secures approval to freeze bank accounts of 20 #EndSARS protesters.

The Abuja Division of the Federal High
Court has granted the Central Bank of
Nigeria, CBN, the nod to freeze accounts
of 20 #EndSARS promoters.

The order followed an ex-parte order the
apex bank filed through a team of lawyers
led by a former Attorney-General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr
Michael Aondoakaa, SAN.

An online news outlet, Peoples Gazette,
said the Certified True Copy of the order it
obtained, revealed that 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.

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

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

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 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.