The Federal Government has traced over N83 billion in both cryptocurrency and fiat currency linked to the recent nationwide protests.
This includes $50 million in bitcoin, with $38 million held in four cryptocurrency wallets, and N4 billion contributed by various political figures from Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina.
This information was presented by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu during President Bola Tinubu’s first Council of State meeting, held at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
According to multiple sources familiar with Tuesday’s meeting proceedings, Ribadu, who spoke on the topic ‘The Nationwide Protest as It Affects National Security,’ also revealed that a European has been identified as the mastermind behind the proliferation of foreign flags during the protests and will soon be declared wanted by the police.
One of the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to talk on the subject, revealed that local conspirators from Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano have been apprehended.
“In his presentation, the NSA said the government was able to trace $50 million to crypto wallets that were made as donations to the protests. They succeeded in blocking four of those wallets containing $38 million.
“They also found out that some political actors contributed N4Bn to fund the protests,” the source stated.
President Bola Tinubu called the Council of State meeting to address the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, as well as issues related to national security, the economy, and food security.
The Council is made up of the President (who serves as 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 Muhammadu Buhari attended the inaugural Council meeting, as did former Heads of State General Yakubu Gowon (retd.) and General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), who were virtually joined by governors from Abia, Adamawa, and Akwa Ibom states.
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