The 20 #EndSARS protesters targeted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the wake of last year’s anti-police brutality demonstrations are still being deprived access to their bank accounts despite the expiration of the court’s freezing order, PREMIUM TIMES learnt on Saturday.

The CBN had on November 4, 2020 obtained an ex parte order of the Federal High Court in Abuja freezing the protesters’ accounts for 90 days.

By calculation, the freezing order expired on February 2.

But one of the affected protesters, Bolatito Oduala, popularly known as Rinu, confirmed in a twitter direct message responding to our reporter’s enquiry on Saturday that the restriction placed on her accounts and those of her colleagues had not been lifted.

Their lawyer, Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, also confirmed this to PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Falana said with the expiration of the order, his legal team “will file a motion to set the order aside.”

Efforts to get the CBN’s lawyer, Mr Michael Aondoakaa, a former Attorney-General of the Federation’s reaction to the development on Saturday were unsuccessful as several attempted phone calls to his known number indicated it was switched off. A message sent to him has also not been replied.

EndSARS protesters, promoters targeted

The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, on October 15, 2020, directed various banks to place a Post-No-Debit order on the accounts linked to 20 #EndSARS campaigners who mobilised support for the anti-police brutality demonstrations.

Those affected are, Bolatito Oduala, Chima Ibebunjoh, Mary Kpengwa, Gatefield Nigeria Limited, Saadat Bibi, Bassey Israel, Wisdom Obi, Nicholas Osazele, Ebere Idibie, Akintomide Yusuf, Uhuo Promise, Mosopefoluwa Odeseye and Adegoke Emmanuel.

The rest are, Umoh Ekanem, Babatunde Segun, Mulu Teghenan, Mary Oshifowora, Winifred Jacob, Victor Solomon, and Idunu Williams.

About three weeks after the post-no-debit order was placed on their accounts, the CBN, through its lawyer, Mr Aondoakaa, on November 4, 2020, obtained an ex parte order of the Federal High Court in Abuja freezing their bank accounts for 90 days.

The judge, Ahmed Mohammed, gave the order based on CBN’s allegation that the 20 defendants were suspected of terrorism financing.