The Department of State Services (DSS) has obtained an order from the Federal High Court in Abuja to freeze 20 bank accounts linked to Aisha Abdulkarim, a woman suspected of involvement in terrorist activities. The accounts are held across eight different banks and will be frozen for 60 days, allowing the DSS to conduct forensic investigations into Abdulkarim’s alleged actions.
Justice Peter Lifu issued the order after hearing an ex-parte application presented by DSS lawyer, Yunus Ishaku Umar. Umar argued that freezing the accounts was necessary to give DSS investigators unrestricted access to the banks for a thorough investigation. A copy of the application, labeled FHC/ABJ/CS/1036/2024, was reviewed by the court during the proceedings.
The eight banks involved include Opay Digital Services Limited, Access Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Union Bank of Nigeria, Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, and First City Monument Bank (FCMB). Five of the accounts are held at Access Bank and Moniepoint each, four at Opay, two at UBA, while GTB, First Bank, Union Bank, and FCMB each hold one account.
In addition to Abdulkarim, the DSS has also linked Yehusa Idris and Abdullahi Babayo Umar to the alleged terrorist activities. Both suspects were arrested at different locations and are currently in DSS custody.
The DSS initially requested a 90-day freeze on the accounts, but Justice Lifu granted only 60 days, emphasizing the need for the investigation to be conducted swiftly. He reminded the DSS that the law considers the suspects innocent until proven guilty, and cautioned against imposing undue hardship on them through prolonged account restrictions.
