Victory For #EndSARS ‘Promoters’ As Court Unbans Accounts
- CBN Governor backs down on case
- Parties okay peace, reconciliation process
BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – Respite has come the way of some promoters of the #EndSARS protest on Wednesday with a Federal High Court in Abuja setting aside its order of November 4, 2020 freezing their accounts.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approached the Court and obtained an ex-parte order freezing the accounts of individuals and organisations suspected as financiers of the #EndSARS campaigns that rocked the country last year.
In his ruling, Justice Ahmed Mohammed ordered all the banks involved to “immediately defreeze the affected accounts” because the existing order had expired on February 4, 2021
He then proceeded to strike out the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1384/2020 filed by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and in which the ex-parte order freezing the accounts for 180 days was made on November 4, 2020.
The court’s decision was based on the withdrawal of all processes filed in relation to the suit by lawyers to all parties concerned.
Former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), appeared for the CBN Governor while Femi Falana (SAN), entered appearance for those affected by the accounts’ restriction order.
Justice Mohammed, who praised the two senior lawyers for their commitment to ensuring that justice was done in the matter, ruled thus; “All processes filed in this matter are hereby deemed to have been withdrawn. The order of the court made on 4th November 2020, freezing the accounts of the defendants is hereby set aside.
“It is hereby ordered that all the accounts of the defendants should be unfrozen and this suit is hereby struck out.”
At the commencement of proceedings, both parties informed the Court of their decision to withdraw all the processes filed in the interest of peace and ongoing reconciliation processes at the various panels of enquiry on police brutality nationwide.
In his submission, Aondoakaa said the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Federal Government to investigate police brutality caused the EndSARS protest last year is already doing a great job, adding; “this matter involves young people and we do not want to prolong it. I have discussed with my colleagues to discard all the processes filed and if that is done, I will withdraw my motion seeking an extension to allow the matter to rest.”
According to him, instructions from his client, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, is against seeking an extension of the order in the spirit of reconciliation.
“We are not asking for an extension of the order to allow everybody to go home peacefully”, he said.
Corroborating the CBN counsel’s submissions, Counsel to the defendants, #EndSARS campaigners, Femi Falana, said since the exparte order has expired, the motion to have the order quashed has also been overtaken by events.
“We, therefore, prayed the court to allow us to withdraw the same motion and that will also affect all the motions filed in this matter,” Falana informed the court.
