A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, granted an order defreezing accounts of 20 #EndSARS protesters.
The court ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to immediately defreeze bank accounts linked to promoters of the protest, which rocked the country for about 12 days in October 2020.
The court set aside its order freezing the accounts which were frozen on November 4, 2020 at the instance of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), following withdrawal of the suit by the apex bank.
Counsel to the CBN, Aondoakaa (SAN) at the resumption of proceedings, Wednesday, informed the court that he had discussed with the counsel to the defendants to discard all the processes filed in the matter since the freezing order had expired on February 4, 2021.
Aondoakaa said he had the instruction from his client, the CNB Governor, Godwin Emefiele not to ask for extension of the order in the spirit of reconciliation.
Consequently, he withdrew the application and added that, “We are not asking for extention of the order to allow everybody to go home peacefully.”
Counsel to the defendants, Femi Falana (SAN), corroborated the submissions of the counsel to the CBN, adding that since the ex-parte order of the court had expired, the motion to have the order quashed had been overtaken by events.
“We therefore pray the court to allow us withdraw the same motion and that will also affect all the motions filed in this matter,” Falana told the court.
The order, which was for 180 days, was to enable the CBN investigate the defendants of alleged crime.
Although the order was supposed to be renewed upon an application by the CBN, however following the decision of counsel to the CBN to withdraw his earlier application for extension of time, the judge subsequently struck it out.
“All processes filed deemed to have been withdrawn in the spirit of reconciliation, the suit is hereby struck out.
“The order of Nov.4, 2020 freezing the accounts of the respondents is hereby set aside.
“An order is made defreezing the accounts of the respondents immediately,” the judge said.
The apex bank had filed an ex-parte application on October 20, 2020, asking the court to freeze the accounts of the respondents, which was granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed.
The court order was addressed to the head offices of Access Bank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, United Bank of Africa, and Zenith Bank.
The court directed the banks to freeze all transactions on the accounts on the list annexed to the CBN’s application as exhibit for a period of 180 days pending the outcome of investigation and inquiry by the bank.
The 180 days elapsed last week.
Some of the bank accounts holders included; Bolatito Oduala, Chima Ibebunjoh, Mary Kpengwa, Saadat Bibi, Bassey Israel, Wisdom Obi, Nicholas Osazele, Ebere Idibie, Akintomide Yusuf, Uhuo Promise and Mosopefoluwa Odeseye.
Others were Adegoke Yusuf, Umoh Ekanem, Babatunde Segun, Mulu Teghenan, Mary Oshifowora, Winifred Jacob, Victor Solomon, Idunu Williams, and Gatefield Nigeria Limited.
