Trendinggist Report— The Department of State Services (DSS) has successfully obtained a Federal High Court order in Abuja to freeze 20 bank accounts connected to suspected female terrorist Aisha Abdulkarim. The accounts, spread across eight different banks, will remain frozen for 60 days to allow the DSS to conduct a thorough forensic investigation into the alleged terrorist activities associated with the account holder.
Justice Peter Lifu issued the freezing order following an ex-parte application presented by the DSS. The secret police argued that freezing the accounts was crucial to facilitating their investigation without interference.
In addition to Aisha Abdulkarim, the DSS has also detained Yehusa Idris and Abdullahi Babayo Umar in connection with the same alleged activities. These individuals were apprehended at different locations by the security agency.
The frozen accounts are held at various financial institutions, including:
- Opay Digital Services Limited: 4 accounts
- Access Bank: 5 accounts
- United Bank for Africa (UBA): 2 accounts
- Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB): 1 account
- Union Bank of Nigeria: 1 account
- Moniepoint Microfinance Bank: 5 accounts
- First Bank of Nigeria: 1 account
- First City Monument Bank (FCMB): 1 account
The DSS had initially sought a 90-day freeze, but Justice Lifu granted a 60-day period, urging the agency to expedite its investigation. The judge also highlighted that, under the law, the suspected terrorists are presumed innocent until proven guilty and should not suffer undue hardship due to the account freeze.
The order allows the DSS to investigate the accounts thoroughly to uncover any connections to terrorist activities. The decision reflects ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and related financial operations in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for careful and prompt investigation while safeguarding the rights of the individuals involved.
