#EndSARS: Govt Putting The Cart Before The Horse By Freezing Protesters’ Bank Accounts – Banire

Muiz Banire, a former National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted the decision of the federal government to freeze the bank accounts of some #EndSARS protesters.

Banire in his submission said the move is a wrong one which is further projecting the government as one that can’t be trusted by the youths.

He also faulted the decision of Justice Ahmed Mohammed who granted the order for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to freeze the accounts of the protesters.

Banire made the submission when he appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, arguing that the investigation should have been carried out before any order to freeze the account was granted.

The CBN had argued that the accounts were suspected to be linked with terrorism, however, Banire in his reaction, argued that “In my very strong view, the order is flawed. The order granted by the judge enables 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?

“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 Nigeria Police or any of the security agencies.

“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 submitted.