A Kaduna-based publisher, Tukur Mamu, and 14 others have been reportedly listed as terrorism financiers by the federal government. The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) disclosed the identity of the 15 entities, including nine individuals and six Bureau De Change (BDC) operators and firms....CONTINUE READING
The NFIU documents showed that the Nigeria Sanctions Committee met March 18, 2024, and at the end of the meeting, recommended specific individuals and entities for sanction following their involvement in terrorism financing.
The document said: “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, with the approval of the President, has thereupon designated the following individuals and entities to be listed on the Nigeria Sanctions List.”
One of the individuals identified in the document was Tukur, who is currently undergoing trial at the instance of the federal government, for allegedly aiding the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train March 2022.
…Mamu’s arrest and trial
Mamu was arrested in Cairo, Egypt, and flown back to Nigeria by Interpol in company of his wives and one other person September 6, 2022.
At the point of arrest, reports said he was interrogated and there was nothing incriminating found against him.
But upon his arrest, and ahead of his trial at the Federal High Court Abuja, the government allegedly found $300,000 which it tagged “terrorist fund”, in his possession.
The accused who is a media adviser to a renowned Muslim cleric, Ahmad Gumi, was among others, accused of exchanging voice notes relating to the Abuja-Kaduna train hostages with one Baba Adamu, a Boko Haram spokesperson.
The federal government, according to the 10-count charge sheet, said the offence contravenes the provisions of the Section 21 (3) (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Specifically, Mamu is accused of receiving 120,000.00 dollars ransom payment on behalf of the terrorist group from families of the victims of the Abuja/Kaduna train attack.
But, Mamu denied and pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against him by the federal government.
NFIU findings/submissions
Speaking on the identities of the listed individuals, the NFIU said one of the terrorism financiers is “the suspected attacker of the St. Francis Catholic Church Owo, Ondo State on June 5, 2022 and the Kuje Correctional Center, Abuja on July 5, 2022.″
The document said Mamu “participated in the financing of terrorism by receiving and delivering ransom payments over the sum of $200,000 US in support of ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.”
The document said one of the individuals is “the suspected attacker of the St. Francis Catholic Church Owo, Ondo State on June 5, 2022 and the Kuje Correctional Center, Abuja on July 5, 2022.”
It also described one of the individuals listed as “a member of the terrorist group Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladissudam, the group is associated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
Another was identified as “a senior commander of the Islamic State of West Africa Province Okene.”
The NFIU said the individual “came into limelight in 2012 as North Central wing of Boko Haram.
“The group is suspected of the attacks carried out around Federal Capital Territory and the South West Geographical Zone, including the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.”
One of those listed, it said, was “a financial courier to ISWAP Okene. She is responsible for the disbursement of funds to the widows/wives of the terrorist fighters of the group.”
…Orders freezing of funds, assets
The document further revealed that, in accordance with Section 54 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, institutions and individuals are required to:
“(a) immediately, identify and freeze, without prior notice, all funds, assets, and any other economic resources belonging to the designated persons and entities in your possession and report same to the Sanctions Committee;
“(b) report to the Sanctions Committee any assets frozen or actions taken in compliance with the prohibition requirements.
“(c) immediately file a Suspicious Transactions Report to the NFIU for further analysis on the financial activities of such an individual or entity; and
“(d) report as a Suspicious Transactions Report to the NFIU, all cases of name matching in financial transactions prior to or after receipt of this List. ”
It said the “The freezing obligation required above shall extend to
“(a) all funds or other assets that are owned or controlled by the designated persons and entities, and not only those that are tied to a particular act, plot, or threat of terrorism or terrorism financing;
“(b) those funds or other assets that are wholly or jointly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by designated persons or entities;
“(c) the funds or other assets derived or generated from funds or other assets owned or controlled directly or indirectly by designated persons or entities; and
“(d) funds or other assets of persons and entities acting on behalf of, or at the direction of designated persons or entities.” (Report sourced from The Punch)
