Saturday, December 3, 2022

EXCLUSIVE: Court documents confirm CBN froze bank accounts of Rinu, Pamilerin, Gatefield, 17 other #EndSARS champions

Governor Godwin Emefiele obtained a court order freezing bank accounts of members of the historic #EndSARS campaign.

• November 6, 2020
CBN Godwin Emefiele (credit: Bloomberg)
CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele (credit: Bloomberg)

The Central Bank of Nigeria obtained a federal court order to freeze 20 bank accounts linked to supporters of the #EndSARS campaign last month, court document obtained by Peoples Gazette showed.

Governor Godwin Emefiele filed an ex-parte court application to freeze the account on October 20, which was promptly granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

Former attorney-general Michael Aondoakaa argued the case for the freezing of the accounts on behalf of CBN, documents showed. The lawyers did not say what the #EndSARS campaigners did against the law to attract freezing of their bank accounts.

The bank accounts blocked included those run by Gatefield, a public interest think-tank, and Bassey Israel, a pharmacist. Gatefield has already filed a lawsuit challenging the freezing of its account.

The banks that were ordered to freeze bank accounts of the #EndSARS champions included Access Bank, Fidelity, First Bank, GTB, Zenith and UBA.

There have been complaints from Nigerians that their bank accounts were frozen in relation to their roles in the #EndSARS campaign, with CBN being mentioned as the main culprit of the punitive measure.
The CBN has repeatedly denied involvement in the freezing of bank accounts of #EndSARS protesters. 

The full list includes:

  1. Bolatito Rachael Oduala
  2. Chima David Ibebunjoh
  3. Mary Doose Kpengwa
  4. Gatefield Nigeria Limited
  5. Saadat Temitope Bibi
  6. Bassey Victor Israel
  7. Wisdom Busaosowo Obi
  8. Nicholas Ikhalea Osazele
  9. Ebere Idibie
  10. Akintomide Lanre Yusuf
  11. Uhuo Ezenwanyi Promise
  12. Mosopefoluwa Odeseye
  13. Adegoke Pamilerin Emmanuel
  14. Umoh Grace Ekanem
  15. Babatunde Victor Segun
  16. Mulu Louis Teghenan
  17. Mary Oshifowora
  18. Winifred Akpevweoghene Jacob
  19. Victor Solomon
  20. Idunu A. Williams.

Download the full bank order here.

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