The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the freezing of 13 different bank accounts reportedly linked to one Henry Okocha, suspected to be a terrorist.
The order followed an ex-parte application made by the Department of the State Services (DSS), through its counsel Yunus Umar.
The accounts are domiciled in seven different banks and are to remain frozen for 60 days, to enable the agency conduct forensic investigations into the alleged acts of terrorism by the suspect.
SaharaReporters reported on Sunday that a Federal High Court in Abuja had issued an order freezing the bank accounts of 32 individuals and companies allegedly linked to the #EndBadGovernance protests that took place across Nigeria between August 1 and August 10.
Justice Emeka Nwite who issued an ex-parte order freezing those accounts including cooperative society accounts, through a motion ex-parte filed by the Inspector-General of Police’s counsel, Ibrahim Mohammed, also directed banks to detain account holders or anyone found transacting business on the affected accounts, pending investigation and prosecution.
In a recent ex-parte order issued by Justice Peter Lifu, the court permitted the DSS to place an embargo on the bank accounts for 60 days for investigation.
In an 8-paragraph affidavit in support of the ex-parte motion, according to Daily Post, Okocha was accused by the DSS of receiving millions of naira into the accounts and was strongly suspected of being proceeds of terrorism.
He was confirmed to have been taken into the custody of the security agency following his arrest for an investigation.
Arguing the application, DSS counsel, Mr Umar, informed Justice Lifu that the DSS needed the freezing order to prevent the suspect from using the fund for illicit activities against innocent Nigerians.
The lawyer also told the judge that the embargo on the accounts would enable the DSS to unravel the perpetrators and bring them before the court for prosecution.
The ex-parte application marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1036/2024 was brought under sections 5 and 81 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
The banks where the accounts are domiciled are United Bank for Africa, Guaranty Trust Bank, Union Bank of Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria, Providus Bank, Palmpay Limited and Resolut Limited.
Justice Lifu turned down the request to put an embargo on the accounts for 90 days but permission for 60 days.
The DSS had days ago sought and obtained an ex-parte order freezing 20 bank accounts belonging to one Aisha Abdulkarim, a woman accused of being a terrorist.