#EndSARS: Federal High Court orders CBN to unfreeze accounts of protesters

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to unfreeze 20 accounts related to activists of the #EndSARS movement.

This was disclosed today in a judgment by Justice Ahmed Mohammed as all parties agreed to resolve the matter.

“All processes filed in respect of the case are hereby deemed to have been withdrawn,” the Judge said in a response to counsel to the CBN, Michael Andoaka, SAN, and lawyer to the defendants, Femi Falana, SAN.

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According to reports, the order came after all the parties in the CBN’s suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1384/2020, notified the court that they had resolved to amicably settle the matter by withdrawing all the processes they earlier filed with respect to the suit.

READ: Why the CBN wielded the big stick on cryptocurrency transactions

What you should know 

• In November of 2020, the CBN had received the nod of the federal high court in Abuja to freeze the accounts of 19 individuals and a public affairs company linked to the #EndSARS protests till January.
• The apex bank told the court it took the action to freeze the accounts and investigate the promoters of the protest on allegations bordering on terrorism financing, among others.
• Some of the affected individuals are 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 20 accounts frozen by the CBN were domiciled in Access Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Fidelity Bank, United Bank for Africa, and Zenith Bank.
• It would be recalled that the peaceful #EndSARS protest of October was later hijacked by hoodlums who perpetrated violence that led to the loss of lives and properties in many parts of the country.