By Daily Review Online
Nigeria’s security agencies have invited six individuals and three Bureau De Change (BDC) companies for questioning over their alleged involvement in financing terrorism, following their designation by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC).
The move comes after the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) ordered the freezing of all funds, assets and economic resources linked to the suspects under the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Speaking at a joint media briefing by security, defence and law enforcement agencies in Abuja on Thursday, NFIU official Kingsley Amaku said the sanctions followed extensive intelligence gathering, financial investigations and inter-agency assessments.
The individuals named are Muktar Muhammad Adamu, Ibrahim Yakubu Ogirima, Adamu Chiroma, Ibrahim Abubakar, Abdullahi Umar Usman and Babangida Muhammed Adamu Hammajam. The affected companies are Abbal Bako & Sons Bureau De Change Limited, Generation Currency BDC Limited and Nine to Nine BDC Limited.
Amaku disclosed that Muktar Muhammad Adamu, Generation Currency BDC Limited and Nine to Nine BDC Limited had also been sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury over their alleged roles in supporting terrorist financing.
He said banks and Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) had been directed to immediately identify and freeze assets belonging to the designated individuals and companies.
According to Amaku, the sanctions were imposed after investigators established reasonable grounds to suspect the individuals and entities of financing, facilitating or supporting terrorist activities.
He added that the coordinated action reflects increasing collaboration between Nigeria and its international partners to dismantle terrorist financing networks and safeguard the country’s financial system.
Security sources said the six individuals and three companies have now been invited for questioning as investigators seek to determine the extent of their alleged links to the Islamic State West Africa Province and other terrorist networks.