CBN Freezes Four Fintech Firms’ Accounts

Date of Occurrence

August 18, 2021
State/Country

Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

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Description

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has secured a court injunction to freeze the bank accounts of four financial technology (fintech) firms for operating as asset management companies without a license.

The affected companies are Rise Vest Technologies Limited, Bamboo Systems Technology Limited, Chaka Technologies Limited, and Trove Technologies Limited.

According to reports, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an ex parte motion seeking the temporary freezing of the companies’ bank accounts yesterday.

Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) filed the motion on behalf of CBN to probe the activities of the four firms.

CBN alleged that the companies were operating without licenses as asset management companies “and utilizing foreign exchange sourced from the Nigerian FX market for purchasing foreign bonds/shares in contravention of the CBN circular referenced TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/012, dated July 1, 2015.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Rise Vest, Eke Urum, assured users of the platform that trading activities would continue as usual, as his team had sought resolution with the regulator.

“We’re aware of the recent reports about us. Our legal and government relations teams are looking into it, but we thought it was important to let you know that your money remains safe with Bamboo and will always be readily accessible,” Bamboo told its users.

Actions Taken

Court Unfreezes two Nigerian Companies Bank Accounts Blocked by CBN for Cryptocurrency, Forex Trading

Three months after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) urged a federal court in Abuja to freeze accounts of some fintech firms in the country. Another Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has instructed the accounts of two fintech firms held in Zenith and Guaranty Trust Bank to be unfrozen.

CBN had approached the court in August 2021 to get an interim order to freeze the accounts which it said is owned by individuals and organizations based in the United States. A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an interim decision directing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to freeze the accounts of two entities tied to cryptocurrency trading in two banks. Rise Vest Technologies Ltd, one of the firms affected, had dragged CBN to court seeking a reversal of the ban on its account.

CBN in August accused Riseinvest, Chaka, Bamboo, and Trove that of illegal foreign exchange transactions which led to the naira's devaluation against the US dollar. In his decision, Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo concluded that the CBN can not rely on a simple circular to freeze bank accounts.

The ruling According to the Judge, the CBN failed to offer any legislation demonstrating that dealing in cryptocurrency is prohibited in Nigeria, and the CBN circular, identified as BSD/DIR/PUB/LAB/014/001 dated February 5, 2021, is not a law.

The judge also directed Zenith Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank to provide the companies instant access.

Justice Taiwo judgment

"I have read the Respondent's counter-affidavit and notice that the grounds for freezing the applicant's account is based on the purported violation of the CBN circular. Any activity that must be sanctioned must be specifically mentioned in a written law, according to the law. "Being unknown to law, circulars cannot generate an offense since it was not demonstrated to have been issued under an order, Act, Law, or Statute." In his opposition to the application, the learned counsel for the respondent also cited the matter of public policy.
"Can this court rule on this application on the basis of public policy, as suggested by the learned counsel for the respondent?" "I don't think so."