Comedian Flaqo: Why my bank account was once frozen
Erustus Ayieko Otieno, better known by his stage name Flaqo, opened up about the time his bank account was frozen.
Speaking on the Iko Nini podcast, the talented comedian revealed he had been paid Sh2 million when he landed a gig with the Communications Authority of Kenya.
Also read: Flaqo: I have been misunderstood for playing ‘Mama Otis’ – VIDEO
The gig was one of the most lucrative he had ever received, and Flaqo says he was thrilled to be a part of it.
A few days after receiving the payment, Flaqo was shocked to learn that his bank account had been frozen.
He could not access any of his funds and had no idea why this was happening.
Flaqo went to the bank to find out what was going on.
The bank told him that they had frozen his account because of the large amount of money he had received.
They suspected he had been involved in fraudulent activities and that the money had not been earned legally.
“It is the gig that taught me to be humble and also to invest. I started to be mature and now I have started to invest”.
Also read: Comedian Flaqo: How stress almost ended my career
Today, Flaqo is still one of Kenya’s most popular comedians, but he is more careful with his finances.
He has learned to keep proper records and be transparent about his income.
Flaqo also hopes that his experience will serve as a cautionary tale for others in the industry who may find themselves in a similar situation.
“I had to explain to the bank who I was and they realised that my money was legitimate,” he said.
Why may a bank freeze your account?
Banks can freeze bank accounts if they suspect illegal activity, such as money laundering, terrorist financing or writing bad cheques.
Creditors can obtain a judgement against you, which can cause a bank to freeze your account.
The government can also request a freeze for unpaid taxes or student loans.
Also read: Flaqo opens up about past encounters with ‘Mumama’