The Department of State Services (DSS) has obtained a fresh court order from the Federal High Court in Abuja to freeze 13 bank accounts linked to Henry Okocha, a suspected terrorist. The accounts, held in seven different banks, will remain frozen for 60 days to allow the DSS to conduct a thorough forensic investigation into the suspected terrorism activities associated with Okocha.
Justice Peter Lifu granted the order following an ex-parte application and supporting exhibits presented by the DSS. The agency, through an 8-paragraph affidavit, accused Okocha of receiving millions of naira into these accounts, which they suspect are proceeds from terrorism.
Okocha has been taken into custody by the DSS for further investigation. The application, argued by DSS counsel Yunus Ishaku Umar, emphasized the need to freeze the accounts to prevent Okocha from using the funds for illicit activities that could harm innocent Nigerians.
The ex-parte application, filed under sections 5 and 81 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022, requested a 90-day freeze, but Justice Lifu granted a 60-day embargo. The order will automatically expire after 60 days unless further action is taken.
The banks involved include United Bank for Africa, Guaranty Trust Bank, Union Bank of Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria, Providus Bank, Palmpay Limited, and Resolut Limited. This development follows a similar order granted by the court to freeze 20 bank accounts linked to another suspected terrorist, Aisha Abdulkarim, also for a period of 60 days.
