#EndSARS: Flutterwave donation link down #FreeFlutterwave

The Flutterwave link used to collect monies donated for the support of #EndSARS movement is down and it is suspected that the Central Bank of Nigeria is behind this.

As reported in an earlier post, Flutterwave is one of the companies that donated funds to the ongoing #EndSARS campaign and they even provided a link for the public to support the cause. As at yesterday, Odunayo Eweniyi, co-founder of Piggyvest announced as at October 12, that total funds raised through Flutterwave stood at 12.3 million in Nigerian currency, Naira and other amounts in different currencies.

As at the time of reporting, the link is down and Twitter is agog with reasons why. Though unconfirmed, it is said that the apex bank of the country is accusing Flutterwave of funding terrorists through the account

The Central Bank of Nigeria is accusing flutterwave of funding terrorists.

The Apex bank is accusing Nigerians expressing their grievances through peaceful protest of being terrorists.@cenbank, stop witch-hunting @theflutterwave. #SarsMustGoNow

— Concerned Nigerians (@ConcernedNIG) October 13, 2020

We stand by Flutterwave, we shall not be intimidated anymore.

Flutterwave is us, We are Flutterwave

If we allow this to pass, then they can do that with any of us.

We must not be quiet#IStandWithFlutterWave

— Dr. Chinonso Egemba (@aproko_doctor) October 13, 2020

Imagine the CBN summoning flutterwave!! That should tell you the kind of country we are in!! The impunity is oozing right in our faces!! We must win this one else the suffering has only just began!!Nigerian Youths have had enough!! #SARSMUSTENDNOW

— DeboMacaroni (@mrmacaronii) October 13, 2020

Though this has not been confirmed yet by both parties, one thing is for sure – the link is down and not available.

Similarly another company, Feminist Coalition, collecting donations for the cause, stated that its bank account has been deactivated and the Flutterwave donation link taken down

Feminist Coalition is a group of Nigerian feminists fighting against the injustice of SARS through peaceful protests, fundraising, and social media organisation.

Before the shut down of Feminist Coalition collection avenues, it had raised over N25 million.

Today we donated NGN5,520,000 to 26 protests; and hospital bills, food, & other supplies

Total raised: NGN 25,181,051.34
Total disbursed: NGN 8,420,000

Balances
NGN 16,761,051.34
USD 9,259.67
CAD 4,454.24
GBP 5,165.93
EUR 759.98
GHS 743.86
KES 52,045.60#EndSARS #SARSMustEnd

— feministcoalition (@feminist_co) October 12, 2020

The Feminist Coalition has now resorted to accepting donations via another bank account and bitcoin.

This is legitimate!!!! https://t.co/4WlOEJCrir

— feministcoalition (@feminist_co) October 13, 2020

Thank you for standing with us & all Nigerians protesting #EndSARS ! Our Flutterwave link is still down BUT you can also donate in Bitcoin using either:

1) Transfer to this BTC address -> https://t.co/MEEiWyZJ5q

2) Sendcash -> https://t.co/dHSJ95yksG

— feministcoalition (@feminist_co) October 13, 2020

However, social media influencer, JJ Omojuwa says that “Contrary to reports, the CBN have been very helpful with Flutterwave on #ENDSARS. There was never a threat to Flutterwave. I want to thank our allies in CBN for that. I will delete my tweets because they were based off misinformation. I apologise for that too. Thank you CBN!!!”

Contrary to reports, the CBN have been very helpful with Flutterwave on #ENDSARS. There was never a threat to Flutterwave. I want to thank our allies in CBN for that. I will delete my tweets because they were based off misinformation. I apologise for that too. Thank you CBN!!!

— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) October 13, 2020

As we await the reactivation of the Flutterwave link, a new hashtag #FreeFlutterwave is now trending on Twitter to agitate for this.

Update

According to a report from ThisDay newspapers, Mr. Tunde Lemo, the Chairman of Flutterwave, ordered the donation link to be taken down. Mr. Tunde Lemo is a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and current Chairman of Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

According to him, “I was the one that instructed them to shut down their system yesterday when the bad guys were moving money through them.”

He said that the decision was taken to prevent illicit flow of fund through the payment channel.