Court grants CBN’s request to freeze accounts of 19 #EndSARS protesters

The request to freeze the account of 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, 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 was granted by the High Court in Abuja on Friday.

The request, which was filed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on 20th October, 2020 to freeze the accounts of 19 individuals and a public affairs company linked to the #EndSARS protests, was granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, Channels Television reported.

The court however ordered the head offices of Access Bank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, United Bank of Africa, and Zenith Bank to freeze forthwith all transactions on the 20 accounts on the list annexed to the CBN’s application as Exhibit ‘A’ and all other bank accounts of the defendants/respondents for a period of 180 days pending the outcome of investigation and inquiry currently being conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, one of the affected account owners, Gatefield Nigeria Limited had earlier sued Access Bank Plc for allegedly blocking an account used to promote media coverage of the #EndSARS protests.