A civil society organisation, Centre for Social Security, Justice and Equity has implored groups and individuals who it alleged are bent on dragging the name of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and her management into the recent #EndSARS protest to desist arguing that the movement was just a mere franchise which was hijacked by enemies of the Nigerian government.
In a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, the executive director of the group Dr Richard Oduma insisted that, the ideals of the #EndSARS protests were betrayed, hijacked and mesmerised by the ever waiting enemies of the country both within and outside.
“Beyond this, how do you justify the deaths recorded and wanton destruction of property especially after all demands of the movement were being considered by the government.
“I can confirm to you that through the #EndSARS protests, some politicians used the the opening to give their own pound of flesh on the government having failed to take power in the the 2019 general elections,” the group alleged.
On the foreign scene, it maintained that became clearer that the #EndSARS promoters had provided a platform for International funding of terrorism in Nigeria.
The group maintained that, the smear campaign against the CBN having regard to investigations of some bank accounts was a merely diversionary and condemnable.
“The CBN as the apex financial regulator can initiate investigations on any bank account, particularly when there is reasonable cause to do so.
“Our investigation reveals that the said accounts been freezed by a competent court order has nothing to do with #End SARS protests. This has been confirmed by the affected parties in their defence in court. As none filed any process concerning #EndSARS.
The CBN has been clear and concise on the purpose of the investigation which basically revolves around terrorism financing.
“This is not what any serious government should ignore, particularly in the face of our current security challenges,” it noted.
The group further passed a vote of confidence on the CBN leadership for the banks ingenious interventions during the COVID 19 crisis which has cushioned the effect of the global recession.
It further advised stakeholders to chart the course of patriotism rather than inciting citizens against critical institutions of government.
