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FG goes after identified terrorists’ financiers, assets

Published

2 years ago

November 20, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami

The Federal Government has commenced moves to confiscate the assets of identified terrorism financiers and their associates in line with international counter-terrorism recommendations.

Sunday PUNCH reliably gathered that security and intelligence agencies were scouting for the physical assets, including companies and bank accounts of individuals and groups indicted for terrorism in the country.

Already, 18 persons, entities and companies have been added to the Nigeria Sanctions List under the supervision of the Nigeria Sanctions Committee, a multi-agency panel created by the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The groups include the Indigenous People of Biafra, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan, the Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda terrorist groups and 13 persons convicted for financing Boko Haram.

IPOB’s major source of funding has been attributed to contributions from Diaspora members and sympathisers through dedicated online platforms and overseas-based bank accounts, while the other entities are believed to fund their activities through ransoms from kidnappings, cattle rustling, robberies and illegal tax on communities under their control.

The 16-member sanctions committee is chaired by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

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Other members include the ministers of finance, foreign affairs and interior, as well as the National Security Adviser; the Director-General, Department of State Services; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria; Inspector-General of Police; and the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Also on the committee are the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission; Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency; Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency; representative of the Chief of Defence Staff; Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other Related Offences; the Director of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit as secretary; and any other relevant person or institution that the President may incorporate into it.

Among others, the committee has powers to formulate and provide general policy guidelines on designations made under sections 49, 53 and 54 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and advise on the effective implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions related to terrorism financing and proliferation financing, and allied instruments of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States.

It can also recommend to the AGF appropriate sanctions including travel ban, freezing of funds, assets seizure, and other economic interests of persons and entities designated under the United Nations Consolidated List or under the Nigeria List.

Our correspondent had reported that the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had earlier been indicted by the ECOWAS financial intelligence agency, the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa, for not going after the assets of convicted terrorists.

In response to the development, the government, it was learnt, had identified 96 financiers of terrorism, including 424 associates/supporters of the financiers, whose assets would be confiscated after due legal process had been concluded.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed in February that the intelligence agencies had unmasked 123 companies and 33 Bureaux De Change linked with terrorism.

Sunday PUNCH gathered that a massive search and freeze campaign for all the assets of terrorists and terrorism sponsors was ongoing.

Giving an update on the initiative on Thursday, a senior Justice ministry official stated, “At the last sitting of the Sanctions Committee last week, we identified several assets belonging to the terrorists and their sponsors, but we have not started seizing the assets; we are working on that. We will get court orders to freeze and forfeit the assets.

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“We are still looking at companies that have terrorism financing elements; once we have identified that and of course investigations will have to identify those that have assets. We will then file ex parte motions, but we have not got there yet.

“However, we have identified the assets of six groups/entities and we are tracing other properties and companies owned by these people. In fact, the bulk of them were tried and convicted. All their accounts have been frozen, but we have not traced their physical assets. Those are the details we are working on; our investigators are tracing their physical assets.”

The director disclosed that 13 convicted sponsors of Boko Haram had been added to the Nigeria Sanctions List, a master list of all persons and institutions blacklisted for terrorism.

Those newly added to the sanctions list are Abdurrahaman Ado, Bashir Yusuf, Ibrahim Alhassan, Muhammad Isah, Salihu Adamu, Surajo Mohammad, Fannami Bukar, Muhammed Musa, Sahabi Ismail, Mohammed Buba, Alin Yar Yaya General Enterprises, K. Are Nigeria Limited and Suhailah Bashir General Enterprises.

The first six alleged sponsors of Boko Haram and the three enterprises were tried and convicted in 2020 by the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal for transferring $782,000 from the United Arab Emirates to the insurgents.

A joint terrorism financing investigation between 2019 and 2021 established a link between one of the convicted terrorist financiers and the insurgents. The convict, who dealt in gold from artisanal mining in the North-West and North-Central, was said to have moved N560m.

Alin Yar Yaya General Enterprises was linked with Yusuf, who is serving a 10-year jail term in Abu Dhabi.

The company, whose address was given as No. 2 Danladi Auyo House, Wapa, Fagge Local Government Area, Kano, was registered on April 15, 2016.

Are Nigeria Limited, registered on September 19, 2019, was promoted by Surajo Muhammad, who is serving a life imprisonment in Abdu Dhabi for financing Boko Haram from Dubai.

Suhailah Bashir General Enterprises, registered on November 28, 2016, was linked to Yusuf, who is serving 10 years in UAE for collaborating with Boko Haram.

Both Yaya and Bashir Enterprises were added to the sanctions list on November 8, 2022.

On July 5, 2022, the sanctions committee added six other entities namely Jamaátu Ahlis Sunna Liddaáwati Wal-Jihad (Boko Haram), Islamic State West Africa Province, Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan, the Indigenous People of Biafra, Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda terrorist groups.

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Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda are bandit organisations declared terrorist groups on November 25, 2021, by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The groups’ activities started several years ago in Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna and Sokoto states and they were said to have partnered with the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, Boko Haram, Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in carrying out major attacks aimed at raising terrorist financing within the bandits’ areas of influence.

In 2021, a total of 2,883 attacks were carried out by the groups, of which 51 were attacks on troops, while others were carried out on communities and commuters.

The sanctions committee in a notice to the Security and Exchange Commission dated November 10, 2022, said all capital market operators were required to immediately identify and freeze, without prior notice, all funds, assets and any other economic resources belonging to the designated persons and entities in their possession and report same to the secretariat of the Nigeria Sanctions Committee.

The operators were also directed to report to the secretariat any assets frozen or actions taken in compliance with the designation, including attempted transactions, pursuant to the provisions of Section 54 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The capital market operators were also expected to immediately file a suspicious transactions report to the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit for further analysis on the financial activities of such an individual or entity; and equally make a suspicious transactions report to the NFIU, all cases of name-matching in financial transactions prior to or after receipt of the sanctions list.

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The market operators were subsequently prohibited from dealings with the designated persons and entities and to continue to check for transactions relating to the designated person or entity and the actions to be taken if funds or other assets or suspect transactions were discovered.

“Note that this freezing obligation extends to all funds or other assets that are owned or controlled by the designated person or entity, and not just those that can be tied to a particular act, plot, or threat of terrorism or terrorism financing; those funds or other assets that are wholly or jointly owned or controlled directly or indirectly by designated persons or entities,” the notice read.

The search and freeze campaign involved all national enforcement agencies and the regulated private sector entities with specific mandate to immediately track, discover and freeze all funds, physical and financial assets, businesses, organisations and all other related entities to the terrorism sponsors.

Related Topics:assets Featured FG financiers Terrorists

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Yuletide: Travellers want fare discount for road trips

Published

11 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Yuletide: Travellers want fare discount for road trips

Bemoan high fares

Passengers travelling to their country homes for the Christmas and new year day celebrations have urged the Federal Government to extend the free rail services announced early in the week to road transport routes across the country.

Some of the travellers who complained about the high fares called on the Federal Government to restore the 50 percent fare reduction on inter-state luxury bus routes granted to road passengers at this time last year.

The passengers who spoke at various terminals and loading stations of long distance road transport companies in Lagos, were reacting to the upsurge in fares to about N40,000 on luxury buses and N65,000 on mini buses going to the South-East.

Reports from some of the boarding stations revealed that upon hearing the announcement of free train ride, some passengers thronged the loading stations at various points in Lagos to benefit from the gesture, but were disappointed when they were informed that the offer did not cover road transport.

At Terminal 1 in Oshodi, Alafia, Jibowu, Mazamaza, and private stations in the Cele/Ejigbo axis, on Saturday, passengers bemoaned the high cost of travelling on both the big and small buses, disclosing that many people were not travelling because they couldn’t afford “the exorbitant fares the transport firms are collecting.”

Interestingly, a trip on board Toyota Sienna which used to attract slightly higher fare than on a typical mini bus, is the same at N40,500.

One of the passengers told our reporter one if the stations in Cele, “You press people should please tell (President Bola) Tinubu that poor masses cannot afford to go home this Christmas because there is no money in the country.

“(President) Tinubu should please repeat the 50 percent discount on long distance fares which some of us enjoyed last year to travel home.”

At the nearby Young Young Shall Grow station, a passenger who planned to travel to the east recalled how he took advantage of the 50 percent fare discount to travel from Abuja to Onitsha and back in 2023, and wondered why the Federal Government has not considered the re-introduction of the palliative this festive season.

According to the man who gave his name as Chinedu Uzoechina, his intention to travel to Anambra state and back with his wife and five children, has been stalled by the high transport fares being charged at the various terminals.

Uzoechina, who came to book for seats in advance, lamented, “I was hoping that the 50 percent fare discount that followed the increase in fuel pump price would be available this year, but that has not been the case this year. Forty thousand into seven is N280,000 for one-way luxury tickets.

“If you add the cost of coming back, it means I will spend nothing less than N560,000 on transportation alone for seven of us. Where will I get that kind of money? I have called my wife to inform her of the situation here (at the terminals in Cele).

“She is not happy that we are not travelling anymore, but what can I do?”

According to him, the only thing that can make his family travel again is if the Federal Government extends the free train ride offer to long distance road transport routes, like Lagos-east, or reduces the fares in collaboration with the operators.

Like Uzoechina, many other intending travellers were still hopeful that the government wiuld still intervene with a fare discount, even as they disclosed that they would either cancel the trips outrightly or reduce the number of tickets to be bought, if their hopes are dashed.It was learnt that the fares were slightly lower by about N2,000 at Terminal 1 where both big and mini buses have been loading for day and night trips at Oshodi.

Reacting to the passengers’ complaints about high fares at the terminal owned by the Lagos State Government, Damian Ezuma, the manager of Izu Chukwu Transport, blamed the situation on the rising cost of maintaining the buses as well as on the pump price of diesel, which he said, is as high as N2,000 a litre in some parts of the country.

“It is not our fault. The cost of maintenance is so high that it is only by the grace of God that some of transport companies still manage to keep their buses on the road these days. Do you know that one big bus tyre costs between N250,000 and N500,000, depending on the quality and brand?” Ezuma argued.

He confirmed that many intending travellers who heard about the free train services offer by the Federal Government have been coming to the terminal make enquiries on whether long distance-plying buses are part of the gesture and whether last season’s fare discount applies this year.

Many of them leave the terminal disappointed and deciding not to travel anymore, but opting instead to wait for a possible fare palliative from the government.

Also commenting on the reason for the high fares, a manager at Chisco Transport’s head office in Lagos explained that the unfavourable naira-dollar exchange rate has impacted on the prices of replacement parts and maintenance costs generally.

But a major factor is the fact that during the peak festive season, buses are usually full when leaving major cities like Lagos and Abuja, but are almost empty in their return journeys.

So some operators slightly adjust their fares upward to cover the losses incurred during return trips.

In 2023, the special fare discount by government through the luxury bus owners took effect on December 21, and lasted till the second week of January, 2024.

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Navy arrests 19 Nigerians attempting to reach Europe by hiding on ship

Published

13 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Navy arrests 19 Nigerians attempting to reach Europe by hiding on ship

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has successfully apprehended 19 individuals attempting to stow away on Europe-bound vessels.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Lagos, the ship’s Information Officer, Lt. Hussaini Ibrahim, disclosed that 15 stowaways were intercepted on Dec. 19 aboard the European-bound Moto Tanker (MT) KRITI RUBY. Another four were caught on Dec. 21 aboard MT MCC YANBU.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the stowaways boarded the vessels at night and concealed themselves in the rudder compartment while attempting to illegally migrate to Europe,” Ibrahim stated.

The Navy’s Quick Response Team (QRT), operating from ATLAS COVE and using the Falcon Eye Alignment under the Nigerian Navy Maritime Domain Awareness Facility, facilitated the interception of the 15 individuals near the Lagos fairway buoy.

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Ibrahim further explained that credible intelligence led to the interception of the additional four stowaways by Navy personnel deployed on escort duties aboard the vessel.

“The prompt response of the QRT saved the stowaways from exposure to life-threatening situations during the long voyage,” he added.

The first group of 15 individuals has been handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Port/Marine Command, Apapa, for further investigation and necessary action. The remaining four suspects will also be transferred in due course.

“The presence of stowaways poses serious security threats to maritime operations, including risks of smuggling, piracy, drug and human trafficking, among other maritime crimes,” Ibrahim noted.

He emphasized that under the leadership of Chief of Naval Staff Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, NNS BEECROFT will continue maintaining security along Lagos waterways and surrounding creeks to support safe maritime activities and economic growth.

Navy arrests 19 Nigerians attempting to reach Europe by hiding on ship

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Troops arrest four Ambazonian rebels in Taraba

Published

13 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Nigerian military troops

Troops arrest four Ambazonian rebels in Taraba

Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 of the Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have arrested four suspected members of Ambazonian rebels in Taraba.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ambazonia is a rebel group operating in neighbouring Cameroon Republic.

A statement on Saturday in Jalingo by Capt. Olubodunde Oni, Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, said the suspects were arrested at a hotel in Takum town.

The statement said that acting on credible intelligence, the suspects were tracked and apprehended.

According to the statement, during initial interrogation, the suspects confessed to being part of the rebel group involved in arms proliferation in exchange for cocoa with their Nigerian collaborators.

It said that four mobile handsets were recovered from the suspects now in detention undergoing further investigation.

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The statement also said that in another operation following actionable intelligence, troops deployed at Natilde community in Bantaji District of Wukari Local Government Area intercepted a truck with registration number WKR 66 BB, transporting 19 pieces of stolen pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

It said that further collaborative efforts with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Wukari Division led to the recovery of an additional 11 pipes, bringing the total to 30.

“The recovered items have been handed over to the NSCDC Wukari Division for further investigation and necessary action.

“The 6 Brigade Nigerian Army will remain resolute in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property while ensuring the security of critical national infrastructure.

“We urge members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to enhance our collective efforts in maintaining peace and security,” the statement added.