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#EndBadGovernance Protests: FG blocks N83bn protest funds
The Federal Government yesterday disclosed that it has traced at least N83 billion in cryptocurrency and fiat money channelled towards the recent nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
A Punch newspaper report noted that they include $50m of cryptocurrency, $38m of which were blocked in four cryptocurrency wallets, and N4bn contributed by political actors in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Katsina.
According to the report, the disclosure formed part of a presentation by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, at the inaugural meeting of the Council of State convened by President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Tinubu convened the Council of State meeting to discuss, among other matters, the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, national security, the economy and food security.
The Council comprises the President (who serves as its chairman), the Vice President, all former Presidents and Heads of State, all former Chief Justices of Nigeria, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Secretary to the Government of The Federation and all state governors.
Former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhamamdu Buhari attended the inaugural Council meeting, while former Heads of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.) and General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), joined virtually alongside governors of Abia, Adamawa and Akwa Ibom State.
READ ALSO: Council of State passes ‘vote of confidence’ on Tinubu
However, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Head of State General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) did not attend the meeting.
Based on sources with knowledge of the meeting proceedings, Ribadu, who presented on the topic: ‘The Nationwide Protest As It Affects National Security,’ also disclosed that a European has been identified as the mastermind of the proliferation of foreign flags during the protests and will soon be declared wanted by the Police.
However one of the sources, who does not want his name in print said because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, disclosed that local conspirators traced to capital city, Abuja, Kaduna and Kano have been arrested.
“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 N4bn to fund the protests,” one of the sources noted.
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