Funds deposited in crypto and fiat money
The Federal Government has reportedly traced at least N83 billion in cryptocurrency and fiat money channelled towards the recent nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.
They include $50m of cryptocurrency — $38m of which were blocked in four cryptocurrency wallets — and N4bn contributed by various political actors in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Katsina.
The Punch reports that this was 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.
Multiple sources with knowledge of Tuesday’s meeting proceedings stated that Ribadu, who presented on the topic ‘The Nationwide Protest As It Affects National Security,’ also disclosed that an 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.
One of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity disclosed that local conspirators traced to capital city Abuja, Kaduna and Kano have been arrested.
READ ALSO: Council of State express confidence in Tinubu
“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 told the Punch.
Credible News had reported on Tuesday that President 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 of State, during the meeting passed a vote of confidence in the administration of President Tinubu.
The Council comprises the President, who served 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.
However, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Head of State General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) did not attend the meeting.
Tuesday’s gathering came days after Nigerians, mostly youths, hit the roads in Abuja for a one-million-man march.
The march, which climaxed with a low turnout, marked the 10th day of the nationwide protest against the rising cost of living in the country.
Credible News.ng
