The Federal Government has declared that terrorists and their financiers will not find a safe haven within Nigeria’s financial system.
The declaration was made by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC) in a statement released through the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) in Abuja on Wednesday.
The statement followed sanctions imposed by the United States (U.S.) on two Bureau de Change (BDC) operators and an individual accused of involvement in terrorism financing.
The committee confirmed that Mukthar Muhammad Adamu, Nine to Nine BDC Limited and Generation Currency BDC Limited were designated by OFAC and subsequently added to Nigeria’s sanctions list published on June 18.
“Nigeria remains resolute in ensuring terrorists and their financiers find no safe haven within the country’s financial system,” the committee said.
According to the NSC, six individuals and three entities were listed following intelligence gathering, financial investigations and assessments by relevant government agencies.
The committee said investigations established reasonable grounds linking the affected individuals and organisations to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other associated terrorist networks.
Those sanctioned include Ibrahim Yakubu Ogirima, Muktar Muhammad Adamu, Adamu Chiroma, Ibrahim Abubakar, Abdullahi Umar Usman and Babangida Muhammed Adamu Hammajam.
The listed entities include Abbal Bako and Sons Bureau De Change Limited, Generation Currency BDC Limited and Nine to Nine BDC Limited.
The Federal Government has directed financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses to comply with all sanctions requirements, including asset freezes, suspicious transaction reporting and the submission of relevant information to authorities.
The NSC also commended the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the NFIU for their roles in strengthening Nigeria’s counter-terrorism financing efforts.