AT least N83 billion in cryptocurrency and fiat money channelled towards the recent nationwide protests has been traced and blocked by the federal government, The PUNCH reports.
The money includes $50 million of cryptocurrency — $38m blocked in four cryptocurrency wallets — and N4 billion contributed by various political actors in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Katsina.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, was reported to have stated this on Tuesday, August 13, while making his presentation at the inaugural meeting of the Council of State convened by President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
This was as Premium Times reported that the Nigerian government froze more than $37 million worth of cryptocurrency held in wallets believed to be owned by some organisers of #EndBadGovernance protests.
According to the report, the action followed an order by the Federal High Court in Abuja, based on an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Similarly, multiple sources reported that Ribadu, during his presentation on ‘The Nationwide Protest and Its Impact on National Security,’ disclosed that the government was able to trace $50m to crypto wallets that were made as donations to the protests, of which the $38m were blocked.
According to him, a European has been identified as the key figure behind the proliferation of foreign flags during the protests and will soon be declared wanted by the police.
“In his presentation, the NSA said the government was able to trace $50m to crypto wallets that were made as donations to the protests. They succeeded in blocking four of those wallets containing $38m.
“They also found out that some political actors contributed N4 billion to fund the protests,” One of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Punch.
The ICIR reported on Tuesday that President Tinubu convened the Council of State meeting to discuss, among other matters, the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, national security, the economy and food security.
Another insider from the Council of State meeting revealed that the local operatives had been detained, while the foreign mastermind was on the run.
The ICIR had on Tuesday, August 12, reported that the Kano State Police Command had moved about 76 suspects arrested for flying Russian flags during the protest to the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The command said the suspects, which include a foreigner, would be put through a discreet investigation and charged with sedition.
Speaking on the NSA briefing on the interference of the foreign mercenaries, the source added: “The NSA also briefed the Council that there was some element of foreign interference in the protest, that they found out that some foreigners fueled the protests. It was not just about Nigerians protesting against hardship.
“A foreign agent had been found to be connected to it and would soon be declared wanted by the Police. The police will make the announcement this week.
“This agent is a person of interest with his Nigerian collaborators; most of them have been arrested. They are looking for him. But his collaborators in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and Katsina have been arrested. The NSA also confirmed that eight people died during the protests.”
The ICIR reported that insecurity, inflation and a hike in the cost of living among others pushed many Nigerians to stage a nationwide protest held from August 1 to 10.
Tinubu had stopped fuel subsidies and devalued the local currency – the naira – thus causing a spiral hike in food and commodity prices and making life unbearing for many citizens.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M