The Nigerian government on Thursday linked about 123 companies and 96 financiers with terrorism, especially those backing Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) also uncovered 424 associates and supporters of the financiers and about 33 bureaux de change linked with terrorism.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known at a briefing on the anti-corruption fight of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mohammed said 45 of the suspects will soon face trial.
He said: ” For its part, the analysis by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), in 2020-2021, revealed 96 financiers of terrorism in Nigeria, 424 associates/supporters of the financiers, involvement of about 123 companies and 33 bureaux de change, in addition to identifying 26 suspected bandits/kidnappers and seven co-conspirators.
“The analysis has resulted in the arrest of 45 suspects who will soon face prosecution and seizure of assets.”
“Also, from its analysis of tax evasion and tax avoidance linked to corruption, NFIU has identified N3,909,707,678,112.43 in VAT and N3,737,918,335,785.82 in Withholding Tax due to the Government. NFIU has also sent 1,165 intelligence reports on cases of corruption, money laundering and other serious offences to 27 domestic agencies for investigation, prosecution and asset recovery.
“On terrorism financing, NFIU had intelligence exchanges on Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry, kidnapping and others with 19 countries. During the same period, 2020-2021, the organization returned fraudulently-obtained funds totalling US$103,722,102.83, 3,000 Pound Sterling; 7,695 Singapore Dollar and 1,091 Euros to 11 countries of victims who came into the country.”
