Olorunrinu Oduala, a prominent campaigner during the historic #EndSARS protest has demanded for the freezing of Minister Isa Pantami’s bank accounts over the latter’s alleged link with terrorist organizations.
Nigerians have been clamouring for the removal of the embattled minister who is been adjudged over past extremist views recently unearthed. He was caught on tape, criticising the military onslaught against Boko Haram terrorists when former president Goodluck Jonathan held sway and described the terrorists as his Muslim brothers unjustly killed like pigs.
Aside that, he also declared his support for Al-Queda and Taliban elements who are carrying out a similar mission like that of Boko Haram, a group that has killed thousands and displaced millions while fighting to enthroned Islam nationwide. Pantami also exclaimed being happy whenever non-muslims are violently eliminated.
With the heightened demands for his removal from office, the minister renounced his extremist views, saying he made them while he was immature, including the last made while he was 34 years old in 2006.
Despite the renouncement, Nigerians continued to asked that he steps aside or be sacked. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also joined the bandwagon.
In her reaction to the development, Ms Oduala, popularly known as Rinu, is asking that the minister be treated the same way protesters who demanded extensive police reforms last year were treated.
In a tweet on Thursday, She queried Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on when the apex bank will deal with the minister the same way the protesters were dealt with.
“Godwin Emefiele, when are you going to freeze the bank accounts of Isa Pantanmi?” the campaigner, who pulled out of the Lagos State judiciary panel in protest over recommendations that the Lekki tollgate be reopened without justice being served, asked.
After soldiers swooped on peaceful demonstrators at the Lekki tollgate and opened live rounds on them, the demonstrations was halted nationwide.
Days later, groups and prominent figures who participated in the protest experience difficulties operating their bank accounts. It was later confirmed that the accounts were frozen on the order of the CBN which later secured an order of the court to back its decision.
While applying for the court order, the apex bank said it took the action due to investigations linked to the accounts said to be terrorism-related. At the expiration of the 90-day order, a federal high court ordered the accounts be unfrozen.
