BY DAYO ADESULU
While Nigerians last Sunday were still ruminating whether it was a constitutional violation for an #ENDSARS promoter, Modupe Odele, to be deprived of travelling oversea, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has authorised the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to freeze the accounts of 20 #EndSARS promoters with immediate effect.
The affected include 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.
Others are Umoh Ekanem, Babatunde Segun, Mulu Teghenan, Mary Oshifowora, Winifred Jacob, Victor Solomon and Idunu Williams.
The alleged twenty #ENDSARS promoters accounts are domiciled in Access Bank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, United Bank for Africa, and Zenith Bank.
Justice A.R. Mohammed who granting the prayers of the Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1384/2020 said the apex bank empowered him to direct the head office of each of the banks to “freeze forthwith all transactions on the 20 Bank Accounts aforementioned.
According to the Justice Mohammed, the freezing of the account will also affect all other bank accounts of the Defendants/Respondents for a period of 90 days pending the outcome of investigation and inquiry currently being conducted” by the CBN.
READ ALSO: Criminals Broke Into Speakers House Located In Adawama
In addition, the court said 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.”