“Nothing wrong in freezing #EndSARS protesters accounts”

Ondo State governor Rotimi Akeredolu has stated that there is nothing wrong in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) freezing accounts belonging to some #EndSARS campaigners.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in October froze the account of 20 persons alleged to have funded the two-week-long protest against harassment, extortion and extra-judicial killings by police personnel in the country.

Some of the accounts frozen by the apex bank were in Guaranty Trust Bank, Access Bank, Zenith Bank and other financial institutions.

The CBN argues that the accounts were being used to finance acts of terrorism in country, thereby, violating the Section 13(1)(a)and(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention)(Amendment) Act, 2013 and Regulation 31(2)(a)and (3)(b) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism Regulations, 2013.

Reacting to the development, Rotimi Akeredolu who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) stated that he doesn’t see anything wrong in the move, as he urged those affected to head to court. He said;

“Speaking very honestly, I don’t see anything wrong in it, if for instance, my account was frozen, what would I do? All I would do is go back to court to explain.”

“Even politicians, their accounts are sometimes frozen. You have to go to court and explain,” Akeredolu said “And at the end of the day, the court will say, ‘Leave the account. The account should be de-frozen’ and you take your money back.”

“If your account is frozen, you justify why the money was there. You come to explain to what use you have put this money,” Akeredolu said.

“It is just that we (CBN) suspected this account then the owner of the account will explain. it is not a conclusion that those accounts were used for acts of treason.”