COURT ORDER ON FREEZING BANK ACCOUNTS OF #ENDSARS PROTESTERS IS BARBARIC - BANIRE
A former National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muiz Banire, has condemned the court order on freezing bank accounts of #EndSARS protesters, saying it is barbaric.
Banire, who is also the convener of the United Action for Change (UAC) and Co-convener, Concerned Professionals, gave the remark during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, November 11, 2020.
The legal practitioner’s remark comes five days after a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja granted the request of the Central Bank of Nigeria to freeze the accounts of some #EndSARS protesters.
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The CBN had on October 20 obtained a court order to freeze the bank accounts of 19 individuals and a public affairs company linked to the #EndSARS protests.
The request was granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed on November 6, 2020.
Banire, while speaking with Channels TV said: “In my very strong view, the order is flawed.
The order granted by the judge to enable the Central Bank of Nigeria to carry out inquiry and investigation, how will you freeze somebody’s account and then go back to investigation and inquire?
“I am sure it is a case of putting the cart before the horse. Beyond that itself, the law does not even say that. What the law says is that even where you do so, you must investigate the matter through the Nigerian Police or any of the security agencies.”
When asked what the Federal Government should have done rather than freezing the accounts of the protesters, the legal practitioner called for trust-building.
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While recalling President Muhammadu Buhari’s speech on the protests in October, Banire asked the current administration to meet the demands of the Nigerian youths.
“My expectation is that the Federal Government as promised by the President in his speech should have just gone ahead, engage them in respect of the five demands of the youths.
“Beyond that also, the government should try to build confidence in these youths. The truth of the matter is that Nigerians generally tend not to trust the government in anything.
“In a situation like this when the youths come out to say ‘look we do not trust you, anything you say you are not going to give up to expectation’ the least that we can do post the protest should have been to engage them to put this trust.”
“The regrettable thing is that, from my experience with the Government, especially at the federal level, I am not too sure the President is aware of this”
“If you recall in his speech he did say, as far as he is concerned, he recognizes the right of the people (Nigerians) to protest. But the truth is that we have so many overzealous public officials who will go out of their way in the process of attempting to impress the president to do things that are not only retrogressive but barbaric, how will you freeze someone’s account for 90 or 180 days without investigation?" he questioned.
He slammed the CBN for the action, explaining that it is not in the position to investigate crime.
He said “Nigerians must rise up and speak up against the provision”.
However, Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has said he does not see anything wrong in the CBN freezing the accounts of #EndSARS protesters.
Akeredolu said that the protesters must explain the flow of funds into their accounts.
Some of the affected individuals include: 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.
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