DSS secures court order to freeze 13 bank accounts over alleged terrorism links
The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order to freeze 13 bank accounts linked to Henry Okocha, who is suspected of terrorist activities. This action follows an ex-parte application submitted by the Department of State Services (DSS), represented by its counsel, Yunus Umar.
The accounts, which are held in seven different banks, will remain frozen for 60 days to allow the DSS to conduct a thorough forensic investigation into Okocha’s alleged terrorist activities.
On Sunday, the Federal High Court had previously ordered the freezing of 32 accounts associated with individuals and companies linked to the #EndBadGovernance protests that occurred across Nigeria from August 1 to August 10. Justice Emeka Nwite issued this order, which included cooperative society accounts, following a motion ex-parte filed by the Inspector-General of Police’s counsel, Ibrahim Mohammed. Banks were also instructed to detain any account holders or individuals conducting transactions on these accounts during the investigation.
In a recent ruling, Justice Peter Lifu granted the DSS’s request to freeze Okocha’s bank accounts for 60 days. This ex-parte order was based on an affidavit alleging that Okocha had received large sums of money suspected to be derived from terrorism. He has been taken into custody by the DSS for further investigation.
DSS counsel Yunus Umar argued that freezing the accounts was necessary to prevent Okocha from using the funds for unlawful activities against innocent Nigerians and to facilitate the identification and prosecution of those responsible.
The application, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1036/2024, was filed under sections 5 and 81 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022. The accounts are held at United Bank for Africa, Guaranty Trust Bank, Union Bank of Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria, Providus Bank, Palmpay Limited, and Resolut Limited.
Justice Lifu approved the 60-day freeze but denied the request for a 90-day embargo. Recently, the DSS also obtained an ex-parte order to freeze 20 accounts belonging to Aisha Abdulkarim, who is similarly accused of terrorism.
