A group which led the push for #EndSARS protest against police brutality last year Feminist Coalition has released its financial statement following allegation it quietly withdrew $51,000 (N23 million) through bitcoin transaction.
The group raised hundreds of thousands of dollars via crowdfunding platforms to help protesters who took to the streets to protest human rights violations by the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The coalition supplied the protests with vital facilities such as legal assistance, emergency medical treatment, gloves, and raincoats.
However, in a statement released on Friday on Twitter which was signed by journalist Kiki Mordi, Ozzy Etomi, Laila Johnson-Salami and 11 others, the coalition restated that on October 22, 2020, it announced the end of donations in support of the protest.
On the allegation, it said the transaction initiated on November 16, 2020, from its wallet address was confirmed on March 5, 2021.
“This transaction was part of a sale of 7.21958757 BTC for N57, 590, 000 with a third party,” the statement read.
The group further said the delay in confirming the bitcoin transaction “was due to the meagre Bitcoin network fees chosen.”
The coalition said the report of the ongoing audit committee of the #EndSARS funds which it raised would be publicly available within eight weeks, “with independent external auditors’ endorsement.”