The Central Bank of Nigeria on Thursday said it got orders from the Federal High Court, Abuja division, to freeze 194 bank accounts belonging to firms and Bureaux de Change to enable it to conduct investigations into suspicious activities.

It disclosed this on Thursday in three separate documents on its website.

The CBN said it got an order to freeze 60 bank accounts of Bluebeam Capital Limited, another order to freeze 84 accounts in 17 banks and order to freeze 50 accounts domiciled in different banks.

Those affected by the new order include Nuhu Abubakar, Lat-Ade Logistics, Adenmosun Lateef Jimoh, Lateef Adenmosun, Saki Polo Global Investment Limited, Sam Polo Concept Enterprises, Saki Abdullahi, Saneo Global Resources Limited, Saneo Global Resources LTD, Romvic Ventures NIG LTD, Romvic Ventures Nigeria Limited, Enychristo Enterprises, Ezeh Onyebuchi and Ezeh Onyebuchi Chris.

Others are Christopher .O. Ezeh, Christopher Onyebuchi Ezeh, Ezeh Christopher Onyebuchi, Mandes Mega Koncepts Limited, Okpalaugo Paul Ifeanyi, Okpalagu Ifeanyi Paul, Ifeanyi Paul Okpalaugo, Paul Ifeanyi Okpalaugo, Chinweuba Okoye Sunday, Sunday Chinweuba Okoye, Okoye Chinweuba Sunday.

The affected bank accounts are domiciled in First Bank Plc, Keystone Bank PLC, Polaris Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Plc, Access Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Plc, Heritage Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa, Eco Bank Plc and Sterling Bank Plc.

CBN had asked the court for an order directing the enlisted banks to freeze the accounts “for a period of 180 days pending the outcome of investigation and inquiry currently being conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

Ahmed Mohammed, presiding judge, on March 30, granted the application of the apex bank.

However, the freezing order would only last 45 days as against the 180 days requested.

Mohammed said: “The order is renewable on expiration but only on good reasons shown.”

“The applicant (CBN) shall publish this order on its website within three days from today,” he added.

“Any person or persons affected by this order are entitled to approach the court to seek to set aside, discharge or have the order reviewed for good reasons shown.”