Breaking: Action FG Will Take on Lagos-based Man Allegedly Financing Terrorism in Nigeria Emerges
- The EFCC is investigating BDC operator Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad for alleged terrorism financing activities
- US' recent sanctions on Muhammad highlight international concerns over ISIS financing networks in Nigeria
- Federal government prepares formal charges against Muhammad following US indictment and ongoing EFCC probe
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering security matters and counterinsurgency in Nigeria and Africa.
FCT, Abuja - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was already investigating Lagos-based bureau de change (BDC) operator Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad and three associated companies over allegations of terrorism financing.
As reported on Thursday, June 25, by The Punch, the EFCC was already probing Muhammad before the United States (US) government imposed sanctions on them, sources within the anti-graft agency have disclosed.
Source: Twitter
ISIS funding: FG targets BDC
The newspaper reported that the federal government was set to charge and arraign the US-sanctioned BDC operator in court.
Top EFCC officials familiar with the investigation disclosed that the commission had concluded significant aspects of its probe and was preparing charges when the US government announced the sanctions.
A source said:
“We investigated these individuals and the BDC companies for terrorism financing and were preparing charges against them when the U.S. indicted them."
Although the EFCC has yet to issue an official statement on the matter, sources said the commission’s investigation focused on alleged terrorism financing activities and financial transactions suspected to be linked to terrorist operations.
The sources, however, declined to disclose when formal charges would be filed.
The development comes after the US designated Muhammad and some Nigerian companies linked to him as alleged financial facilitators of activities linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The fresh list of designations by the Nigerian government, including Muhammad and the firms linked to him, is as follows:
- Ibrahim Yakubu Ogirima (NLISWi.19)
- Muktar Muhammad Adamu (NLISWi.20)
- Adamu Chiroma (NLISWi.21)
- Ibrahim Abubakar (NLISWi.22)
- Abdullahi Umar Usman (NLISWi.23)
- Babangida Muhammed Adamu Hammajam (NLISWi.24)
- Abbal Bako & Sons Bureau De Change Limited (NLISWe.25)
- Generation Currency BDC Limited (NLISWe.26)
- Nine to Nine BDC Limited (NLISWe.27)
Source: Getty Images
Legit.ng reports that ISIS, to which Agege-based Muhammad was linked, is a deadly terrorist group responsible for numerous attacks across northern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region, including Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, resulting in thousands of deaths.
The US is sustaining its fight against ISIS through targeted U.S. Central Command counterterrorism operations and joint international offensives.
Read more on insecurity in Nigeria:
- US interference: Ex-military head of state breaks silence on what Donald Trump must do to Nigeria
- The Country of Particular Concern 'trap': What the US Senate got wrong about Nigeria’s crisis
- List of killed Imams and mosques attacked by bandits that led to significant loss of lives
Terror financing: Court targets commissioner
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the federal high court in Abuja denied bail to Bauchi state commissioner for finance, Yakubu Adamu, and four co-defendants facing terrorism financing charges.
Read also
Full list: Identities of Nigerian national, firms, designated as terrorist financiers by US
Trial judge Emeka Nwite held that the defendants were undeserving of bail because of the nature of the charges they face.
Apart from Adamu, other co-defendants indicted in the case are Balarabe Abdullahi Ilelah, Aminu Bose, and Kabiru Yahaya Mohammed.
Source: Legit.ng
