Nigerian Govt Prosecutes Over 730 Terrorism-Linked Cases, Secures 90 Convictions
The Nigerian government has said it has secured the conviction of 90 persons after prosecuting more than 730 terrorism-related offences in the country.
The govenrment noted that this was a significant milestone in Nigeria’s fight against violent extremism and financial crimes.
This was disclosed by Major General Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), during an on-site meeting with officials of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Abuja on Monday.
According to Laka, a core element of Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy is the targeted disruption of financial networks that fuel terrorist operations across the country.
He explained that disrupting the financial lifelines of terrorist organisations is central to the national counterterrorism strategy.
He added that more than 90 of the convictions were achieved with the direct support of intelligence and data provided by the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), showcasing the strength of inter-agency collaboration in tackling terrorism.
“Our ability to prosecute over 730 terrorism-linked cases is a testament to the effectiveness of our coordinated national approach. More than 90 convictions were secured with support from NFIU.”
He also commended the strong collaboration between the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and other national security and financial enforcement agencies, attributing their joint efforts to a notable decline in the flow of illicit funds to terrorist groups operating in Nigeria.
Praising the work of the Joint Standard Investigation Committee on Terrorism Financing, Laka described the committee’s role as “crucial” to Nigeria’s ability to investigate and prosecute complex financial crime cases.
He further disclosed that a recent simulation exercise was conducted to assess the country’s institutional preparedness ahead of a critical evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which will determine Nigeria’s eligibility for removal from the FATF’s “Grey List.”
“The strength of our collective preparation will determine the success of the upcoming FATF visit and, ultimately, Nigeria’s removal from the FATF Grey List,” he added.
While speaking at the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Hajiya Hafsat Bakari, expressed confidence in Nigeria’s progress in implementing the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plan.
She stated that impressive strides have been made in addressing all 19 action items, thanks to a collective national effort.
Bakari added that the FATF on-site assessment provides Nigeria with a crucial opportunity to showcase both its technical achievements and long-term commitment to strengthening its financial crime prevention framework.
According to her, “The importance of this assessment is underscored by the size of the team coming to Nigeria. We will be hosting 11 reviewers covering all the immediate outcomes in our action plan.
“And considering the difficulty the FATF has previously had in finding reviewers to come to some of the countries in Africa, this is indeed quite a sign of confidence in Nigeria.
“I’m also delighted to inform you that, as a recognition of the excellent work we have all done and our regional and global leadership, the FATF has invited Nigeria to join its guest member.
“This essentially means that Nigeria will participate under our own flag in the discussions and projects of the FATF.
“While this does not mean full membership, it is nonetheless a further step on our journey to having a seat at the table and reaffirmation that we are on the right track.”
