Simon Ekpa, Nigeria Sanctions Committee came up with his name snd 16 individuals and organisations as terrorism financiers.
The news of the designation of 17 individuals and organisations as terrorism financiers could not have come at a time than this, given a slew of terrorist activity, including banditry and kidnapping the nation is currently grasping with at tremendous cost to the economy.
On Thursday, the Nigeria Sanctions Committee came up with names of 17 individuals and organisations terrorism financiers.
Those so designated include Simon Ekpa, Godstime Promise Iyare, Francis Mmaduabuchi, John Onwumere, Chikwuka Eze, Edwin Chukwuedo, Chinwendu Owoh, Ginika Orji, Awo Uchechukwu, and Mercy Ebere Ifeoma Ali.
Others include Ohagwu Juliana, Eze Okpoto, Nwaobi Chimezie, Ogomu Kewe, Igwe Ka Ala Enterprises, Seficuvi Global Company, and Lakurawa Group.
According to the report, the list was given approval by the President based on the recommendation of the Attorney General of the Federation.
“The Nigeria Sanctions Committee held a meeting on March 6, 2024, where specific individuals and entities were recommended for designation following their involvement with terrorism financing.
“The Attorney General of the Federation, with the approval of the President, has thereupon designated the following individuals and entities to be listed on the Nigeria Sanctions List.
“In accordance with Section 54 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, you are required to:
“(a) Immediately identify and freeze, without prior notice, all funds, assets, and any other economic resources belonging to the designated persons in your possession and report the same to the Sanctions Committee.
“(b) Report to the Sanctions Committee any assets frozen or actions taken in compliance with the prohibition requirements.
“(c) Immediately file a Suspicious Transactions Report to the NFIU for further analysis of the financial activities of such individuals or entities.
“(d) Report as an STR to the NFIU all cases of name matching in financial transactions prior to or after receipt of this list.”
The committee ordered the immediate freezing of bank accounts and financial instruments associated with the listed individuals and entities across multiple banks, payment platforms, and financial institutions.
“Freezing measures should be extended to all accounts associated with the designated subjects. For designated entities, this should include accounts linked to their signatories and directors to ensure comprehensive enforcement of the sanctions regime,” the document added.
The committee also hinted that financial institutions and relevant stakeholders have been given instructions to bring sanctions to effect and submit compliance reports to the Nigeria Sanctions Committee via [email protected] and [email protected].
Beyond the above measures, there is a need to prosecute all of them with thoroughness and due diligence in order to serve as a deterrence to would be terrorist.
This is not the first time we were told of identification of certain individuals and organisations as terror sponsors.
During the administration of the former president General Muhammadu Buhari, the Qatari government availed the administration of the names of certain individuals and organisations sponsoring terrorism but the Buhari administration bungled the whole matter and swept it under the carpet.
We are aware that the current government has taken more positive steps than its predecessor in tackling terror, but we are quick to add that unless there’s enough political will to prosecute those fomenting terror using their formidable financial chest, the spectre of terrorism will continue to haunt the nation.
It’s imperative to pursue the legal option to complement the military onslaught against those outlaws. By decapitating their sponsors, the will to power of terrorists will be highly degraded, if not totally eliminated. It’s the option the current administration must doggedly pursue.
