The Presidency has said that the Federal Government is not interested in exposing sponsors of terrorism in the country.
This new development is in contrast with its earlier resolve to make public and prosecute Nigerians including Bureau De Change operators, who were accused of funding terrorism among other criminal activities.
This disclosure was made by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, while appearing as a guest on a Channels Television programme, Politics Today, on Monday, September 20, 2021.
Adesina, in his statement, said that the federal government would rather prosecute financiers of insurgency in court and bring them to justice.
What the Presidential Media Adviser said
Adesina said, “Naming and shaming will not be the motive, bringing malefactors to justice will be it. Nigeria is not interested in naming and shaming anybody. Rather, it wants to bring them to justice.
“You will see that the United Arab Emirates has given some names and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) has reacted to that matter, saying that in due course, all these people will have their dates in court. Rest assured that these people will be dragged before justice and justice will have its way.”
While responding to a question, Adesina said that the federal government would first investigate the suspects before they are made to face trial adding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and other security agencies were working to get verifiable evidence against the suspects before their arraignment in court.
He said, “Investigations are going on at different levels; it will be at the level of the EFCC, it will be at the level of the NIA. All the security agencies will be working on it so that when those people eventually appear in court, there will be a prima facie case against them.
“You don’t first call people before the court and start looking for evidence against them later. No! The cases will be tied up before they appear in court.”
What you should know
- This is coming about 4 months after the Federal Government said it had begun profiling for prosecution, well-placed Nigerians suspected to be financiers of terrorism in the country.
- Recall that in May 2021, the federal government said it will arraign 400 suspects arrested for funding Boko Haram insurgents and bandits.
- The suspects were arrested in an operation coordinated by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
- The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, revealed that investigations conducted established reasonable evidence of the involvement of some highly placed individuals, businessmen, and institutions across Nigeria in financing insurgency in the North East.
