#EndBadGovernance protests: Federal govt blocks N83 billion protest funds

The Federal Government yesterday revealed that it had tracked at least N83 billion in cryptocurrencies and fiat money channeled towards the recent nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.

A Punch Newspaper The report noted that it included $50 million in cryptocurrencies, $38 million of which was blocked in four cryptocurrency wallets, and N4 billion donated by political actors in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Katsina.

According to the report, the disclosure was part of a presentation by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, at the inaugural meeting of the Council of State hosted by President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

Tinubu convened a meeting of the Council of State to discuss, among others, the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, national security, the economy and food security.

The Council consists of the President (who serves as its chairman), the Vice President, all former Presidents and Heads of State, all former Chief Justices of Nigeria, the President of the Senate, 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 with the governors of Abia, Adamawa and Akwa Ibom states.

READ ALSO: State Council passes ‘motion of confidence’ in Tinubu

However, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Head of State General Ibrahim Babangida (ret.) did not attend the meeting.

According to sources familiar with the meeting, Ribadu, who presented the topic: ‘National Protests Impacting National Security,’ also revealed that a European citizen has been identified as the mastermind behind the distribution of foreign flags during the protests and will soon be declared a fugitive by the Police.

But one source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said local conspirators traced to the capital, Abuja, Kaduna and Kano had been arrested.

“In its presentation, the NSA said the government was able to trace $50 million to crypto wallets that were used as donations for the protests. They were able to block four wallets containing $38 million.

“They also discovered that some political actors contributed N4 billion to fund the protests,” one of the sources noted.

#EndBadGovernance Protest: FG blocks N83 billion protest funds first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.