A former National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress
(APC), Muiz Banire, says the court order on the freezing of
#EndSARS Protesters’account is flawed.
![image](/2020/10/NWLR1.jpg")
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
Banire disclosed this on Wednesday during an interview on
Channels Television’s Politics Today.
![image](/2020/11/spaajibade.jpg")
“In my very strong view, the order is flawed. The order granted
by the judge to enable the Central Bank of Nigeria to carry out
inquiry and investigation, how will you freeze somebody’s account
and then go back to investigation and inquiry?” he questioned.
“I am sure it is a case of putting the cart before the horse.
Beyond that itself, the law does not even say that. What the law
says is that even where you do so, you must investigate the matter
through the Nigerian Police or any of the security agencies.”
When asked what the Federal Government should have done rather
than freezing the accounts of the protesters, the legal
practitioner called for trust-building.
While recalling President Muhammadu Buhari’s speech on the
protests in October, Banire asked the current administration to
meet the demands of the Nigerian youths.
“My expectation is that the Federal Government as promised by
the President in his speech should have just gone ahead, engage
them in respect of the five demands of the youths.
“Beyond that also, the government should try to build confidence
in these youths. The truth of the matter is that Nigerians
generally tend not to trust the government in anything.
“In a situation like this when the youths come out to say ‘look
we do not trust you,’ the least that we can do post the protest
should have been to engage them to put this trust.”
Banire’s remarks come five days after a Federal High Court in
Abuja has granted the request of the Central Bank of Nigeria to
freeze the accounts of 19 individuals and a public affairs company
linked to the #EndSARS protests.
The request, granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, was filed by the
CBN on October 20.
Some of the affected individuals include Bolatito Racheal
Oduala, Chima David Ibebunjoh, Mary Doose Kpengwa, Saadat Temitope
Bibi, Bassey Victor Israel, Wisdom Busaosowo Obi, Nicholas Ikhalea
Osazele, Ebere Idibie, Akintomide Lanre Yusuf, Uhuo Ezenwanyi
Promise and Mosopefoluwa Odeseye.
Others are: Adegoke Pamilerin Yusif. Umoh Grace Ekanem,
Babatunde Victor Segun, Mulu Louis Teghenan, Mary Oshifowora,
Winifred Akpevweoghene Jacob, Victor Solomon, Idunu A. Williams,
and Gatefield Nigeria Limited.
A former National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress
(APC), Muiz Banire, says the court order on the freezing of
#EndSARS Protesters’account is flawed.
Banire disclosed this on Wednesday during an interview on
Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“In my very strong view, the order is flawed. The order granted
by the judge to enable the Central Bank of Nigeria to carry out
inquiry and investigation, how will you freeze somebody’s account
and then go back to investigation and inquiry?” he questioned.
“I am sure it is a case of putting the cart before the horse.
Beyond that itself, the law does not even say that. What the law
says is that even where you do so, you must investigate the matter
through the Nigerian Police or any of the security agencies.”
When asked what the Federal Government should have done rather
than freezing the accounts of the protesters, the legal
practitioner called for trust-building.
While recalling President Muhammadu Buhari’s speech on the
protests in October, Banire asked the current administration to
meet the demands of the Nigerian youths.
“My expectation is that the Federal Government as promised by
the President in his speech should have just gone ahead, engage
them in respect of the five demands of the youths.
“Beyond that also, the government should try to build confidence
in these youths. The truth of the matter is that Nigerians
generally tend not to trust the government in anything.
“In a situation like this when the youths come out to say ‘look
we do not trust you,’ the least that we can do post the protest
should have been to engage them to put this trust.”
Banire’s remarks come five days after a Federal High Court in
Abuja has granted the request of the Central Bank of Nigeria to
freeze the accounts of 19 individuals and a public affairs company
linked to the #EndSARS protests.
The request, granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, was filed by the
CBN on October 20.
Some of the affected individuals include Bolatito Racheal
Oduala, Chima David Ibebunjoh, Mary Doose Kpengwa, Saadat Temitope
Bibi, Bassey Victor Israel, Wisdom Busaosowo Obi, Nicholas Ikhalea
Osazele, Ebere Idibie, Akintomide Lanre Yusuf, Uhuo Ezenwanyi
Promise and Mosopefoluwa Odeseye.
Others are: Adegoke Pamilerin Yusif. Umoh Grace Ekanem,
Babatunde Victor Segun, Mulu Louis Teghenan, Mary Oshifowora,
Winifred Akpevweoghene Jacob, Victor Solomon, Idunu A. Williams,
and Gatefield Nigeria Limited.