The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, in a ruling on Friday, ordered that 13 bank accounts linked to a suspected terrorist, Henry Okocha, be frizzed.
Justice Peter Lifu issued the order after an ex-parte application was brought before the court by the Department of State Services. Yunus Umar represented the DSS as the council.
The applications marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1036/2024, it was filled under sections 5 and 81 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
An 8-paragraph affidavit supported the application; the DSS told the court that the defendant had received a huge sum of money to the tune of millions of naira in the accounts; according to the DSS, the funds were gotten from the act of terrorism, practice.
The DSS counsel asked the court to grant the organization’s application to freeze the account for 90 days. This time will be used for a thorough forensic investigation into the suspect’s alleged acts of terrorism.
The DSS explained that when the account is restricted, the DSS will conduct its investigation to aid the arrest of all those guilty in the act of terrorism and bring them to justice.
It was disclosed that the bank accounts were opened in First Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, United Bank for Africa, Union Bank of Nigeria, Providus Bank, Palmpay Limited, and Resolut Limited.
He stated that the accounts operated in seven different banks in the country would be frozen for 60 days to enable the DSS, who is the applicant, to conduct all the necessary forensic studies and investigations into the allegation brought before the accused person who has been suspected of practising terrorism.
The DSS noted that the suspect has been arrested by its operatives, and the investigation will begin immediately.
