The Federal Government has traced at least ₦83 billion in cryptocurrency and fiat money that was allegedly channeled towards the recent nationwide protests.
This revelation was made during 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 in Abuja.
According to Ribadu’s presentation, the funds include $50 million in cryptocurrency, of which $38 million has been blocked across four cryptocurrency wallets. Additionally, ₦4 billion in fiat money was reportedly contributed by various political actors in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina.
The presentation, titled ‘The Nationwide Protest As It Affects National Security,’ provided a detailed account of the financial and logistical support behind the protests, which have drawn significant attention both domestically and internationally.
Multiple sources familiar with the meeting proceedings disclosed that Ribadu also revealed the involvement of a European national, identified as the mastermind behind the proliferation of foreign flags during the protests.
The individual is expected to be declared wanted by the Nigerian Police soon.
Furthermore, local conspirators traced to Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano have been arrested, according to a source who spoke with Punch on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information.
The Council of State meeting, which brought together former presidents, state governors, and other key national figures, focused heavily on the implications of the protests for national security.
“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 ₦4bn to fund the protests,” one of the sources told The Punch.
Another source privy to the discussions at the Council of State meeting told the platform that these local actors have been arrested, with the foreign mastermind on the run.
The source said, “The NSA also briefed the Council that there was some element of foreign interference in the protest, that they found out that some foreigners fueled the protests. It was not just about Nigerians protesting against hardship.
“A foreign agent had been found to be connected to it and would soon be declared wanted by the Police. The police will make the announcement this week.
“This agent is a person of interest with his Nigerian collaborators; most of them have been arrested. They are looking for him. But his collaborators in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and Katsina have been arrested. The NSA also confirmed that eight people died during the protests.”
