Though it did not offer a reason for its action, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks in the country to block withdrawals from the accounts of 18 companies.
The affected companies include Bakori Mega Services, Ashambrakh General Enterprise, Namuduka Ventures Limited, Crosslinks Capital and Investment Limited, IGP Global Synergy Limited, Davedan Mille Investment Limited and Urban Laundry.
Others are Advanced Multi-Links Services Limited, Spray Resources, Al-Ishaq Global Resources Limited, Himark Intertrades, Charblecom Concept Limited, Wudatage Global Resources.
Also included are Treynor Soft Ventures, Fyrstrym Global Concepts Limited, Samarize Global Nigeria Limited, and Zahraddeen Haruna Shahru.
The circular, signed by Haruna B. Mustapha, director of banking supervision, on Thursday, also instructed banks to send details of the accounts.
Feelers indicate that the apex bank’s directive may not be unconnected with suspicion of money laundering since a post-no-debit allows money inflows, while barring all debit transactions, including ATMs and cheques, on affected accounts.
Besides, all the companies affected belong to bureaux de change (BDCs), construction firms, investment companies, laundering services, and property companies.
A report by The Cable attributes the CBN’s move to the ongoing clampdown on illegal foreign exchange trading since the ban on forex sales to BDCs.
“You are hereby directed to place all accounts of the under-listed customers on Post-No-Debit (PND) restriction,” the circular read.
The platforms have denied wrongdoings, TheCable reported.
