The Federal Government of Nigeria is alleged to have tracked down and placed a ban on a bank account being used to mobilize funds for the organizers of the planned nationwide protest in the country.
A leaked document that emanated from a legal firm, Inibehe Efiong Chambers, showed that the government detected the bank account being used by the organizers ahead of August 1st when the protest.
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong’s law firm, Inibehe Effiong Chambers, has written to the United Bank for Africa (UBA), demanding immediate reopening of the Take-It-Back Movement’s account frozen on the order of the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) over the planned protest against hardship and hunger in the country.
The law firm is demanding that the United Bank for Africa immediately lift the ban on the said suspicious bank account, 2109193911, a corporate account opened with the bank account name “Take It Back”.
The letter which was directed to the Managing Director, United Bank for Africa PLC, 57, Marina Road, Lagos Island, Lagos, demands immediate lifting of the restriction placed on TAKE IT BACK GLOBAL LTD/GTE’s account.
The letter read in parts “We are Solicitors to Take It Back Global Ltd/Gte, a corporate entity duly incorporated in Nigeria and hereinafter referred to as our “Client” and on whose behalf we write this letter.
“We have been informed by our Client that it opened an account with United Bank for Africa PLC (the “Bank”) with the following particulars:
Account Name: Take It Back
Account Number: 2109193911
“We were further informed by our Client today, the 26th day of July 2024, that it has been unable to access the above-described account as the said account has been frozen by the Bank and rendered inoperable.
“Up till the point of writing this letter to you, neither United Bank for Africa nor any of its staff has offered any formal explanation in respect of the restriction on our Client’s account.
“In view of the above, we are by this letter demanding that you offer a well-detailed, formal and immediate written explanation for the freezing of our Client’s account within 24 hours of the receipt of this letter.
“PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that in the event that you refuse or fail to comply with the above demand within the stipulated time, we have the firm instruction of our Client to institute necessary legal actions against you.
“Accordingly, in the interest of your corporate brand and reputation, we advise that you comply with this demand.”
According to Sahara Reporters, UBA froze the account of human rights organisation over its call for #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests.
TIB Movement insists its account was frozen on the instructions of Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Services, also known as State Security Service for allegedly being involved in the August 1 nationwide protest.