The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit has discovered 96 terrorist financiers, as well as 424 associates and supporters.
On Thursday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, revealed this during a briefing on President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign.
The fraud section revealed 123 organizations and 33 bureaux de change related to terrorism in the country, according to the minister.
He said, “For its part, the analysis by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, 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 7 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 offenses 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 totaling US$103,722,102.83, 3,000 Pound Sterling; 7,695 Singapore dollars, and 1,091 Euros to 11 countries of victims who came into the country.”
