The law firm threatened to take legal action against the bank if it fails to reopen the frozen account of the human rights organisation after 24 hours.
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong’s law firm, Inibehe Effiong Chambers, has written to the United Bank for Africa (UBA), demanding immediate reopening of the Take-It-Back Movement’s account frozen on the order of the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) over the planned protest against hardship and hunger in the country.
The law firm threatened to take legal action against the bank if it fails to reopen the frozen account of the human rights organisation after 24 hours.
The letter read, “We are Solicitors to Take It Back Global Ltd/ Gte, a corporate entity duly incorporated in Nigeria and hereinafter referred to as our "Client" and on whose behalf we write this letter.
“We have been informed by our Client that it opened the following account with United Bank for Africa: Account Name: Take It Back Account Number: 2109193911.
“We were further informed by our Client today, 26th of July, 2024, that it has been unable to access the above described account, the account having remained frozen by United Bank for Africa and rendered inoperable.
“Up till the point of writing this letter to you, neither United Bank for Africa nor any of its staff has offered any formal explanation in respect of the restriction on our Client's account.
“In view of the above, we are by this letter demanding that you offer a well-detailed, formal and immediate written explanation for the freezing of our Client's account within 24 hours of the receipt of this letter.
“PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that in the event that you refuse or fail to comply with the above demand within the stipulated time, we have the firm instruction of our Client to institute necessary legal actions against you.
“Accordingly, in the interest of your corporate brand and reputation, we advise that you comply with this demand.”
SaharaReportere earlier reported that UBA froze the account of human rights organisation over its call for #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests.
According to TIB Movement, its account was frozen on the instructions of Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Services, also known as State Security Service.
The organisation had vowed to take legal action against UBA for the unlawful action if the account is not unfrozen within 24 hours.
“It has now come to our attention that @UBAGroup has frozen our account on the instructions of the DSS over our involvement in the forthcoming protest.
“We describe this action as lawless, and demand our account be unfrozen immediately within the next 24hours, without which a legal action will be instituted against @UBAGroup,” it said in a post on its X handle on Friday.