Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that the Federal Government has uncovered 96 financiers of terrorism across the country, especially those backing Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Mohammed told a news conference on Thursday in Abuja that the “Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), in 2020-2021, revealed 96 financiers of terrorism in Nigeria,” while 424 associates and supporters of the financiers were also uncovered.”
He disclosed that about 123 companies and 33 Bureau de change, were linked to terrorists in addition to 26 suspected bandits/kidnappers and seven co-conspirators who have now been identified.
“The analysis has resulted in the arrest of 45 suspects, who will soon face prosecution and seizure of assets,” he said.
On the activities of various anti-corruption agencies, the minister said that In 2021 alone, the EFCC secured a total of 2,220 convictions. “That represents a 127 percent increase in the number of convictions (976) recorded in 2020, and a far cry from the 195 convictions secured in 2016, the 189 in 2017, the 312 convictions in 2018, and the 1,280 recorded in 2019.
“The 2021 figure of 2,220 convictions represents a 98.49 per cent success rate, with only 34 cases (representing 1.51 per cent) discharged.”
On Monetary recoveries, he said: “In 2021 alone, the EFCC recovered a total monetary amount of N152,088,698,751.64; 1,182,519.75 Pounds Sterling, 50 Emirati Dirham, 1,723,310 Saudi Riyal, 1,900 South African Rand; US$386,220,202.85; 156,246.76 Euros; 1,400 Canadian Dollars;5.36957319 Bitcoin and 0.09012 Ethereum. The last two are digital currencies.
The minister, however, said that the government’s Whistle-Blower policy led to the recovery of N700 billion.
“The Whistle-blower Policy is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning. The policy is meant to encourage the voluntary disclosure of information about fraud, bribery, and looted government funds, including financial misconduct and any other form of corruption or theft.
“The Whistle Blower, whose information leads to recovery is entitled to 2.5 to 5% from the recovered funds. Information and tips received are usually referred to the EFCC, ICPC, and NFIU for further painstaking investigation. The policy has helped in the cleansing of IPPIS, led to compliance on TSA, and enhanced the Procurement Act 2007.
“As of 2020, a total sum of N700 billion has been recovered through the Whistle-Blower Policy,” local media reports on Friday quoted the minister as saying.
GIK/APA