Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of
Justice, Abubakar Malami on Friday said that investigations have revealed that
some high profile Nigerians are involved in terrorism financing.
The AGF who, stated this in a chat with State House
correspondents at the presidential villa, Abuja, said that such persons are
being profiled for prosecution.
He said the arrest of the undisclosed number of suspects
followed the recent convictions of some Nigerians on terrorism financing in the
United Arab Emirates, UAE.
He said ongoing investigations have given reasonable grounds
to prosecute the high profile Nigerians and institutions across the country.
When asked to throw more light on the extent of prosecution,
he said: “As you will actually know, sometimes back there were certain
convictions of Nigerians allegedly involved in terrorism financing in the
United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“That gave rise to a wider and far-reaching investigations
in Nigeria and I’m happy to report that arising from the wider coverage
investigation that has been conducted in Nigeria, a number of people, both
institutional and otherwise, were found to be culpable.
“I mean reasonable grounds for suspicion of terrorism
financing have been established, or perhaps has been proven to be in existence
in respect of the transactions of certain higher profile individuals and businessmen
across the country.
“I’m happy to report that investigation has been ongoing for
long and it has reached an advanced stage.
“Arising from the investigation, there exists, certainly,
reasonable grounds for suspicion that a lot of Nigerians, high-profile,
institutional and otherwise, are involved in terrorism financing and they are
being profiled for prosecution.
“In essence, it is indeed true that the government is
prosecuting and it’s indeed initiating processes of prosecuting those
high-profile individuals that are found to be financing terrorism. It is indeed
true.”
But the minister was reluctant to disclose the number of such
suspects as he maintained that investigation was still ongoing.
Malami said, “As to the number, investigation is ongoing and
it has to be conclusive before one can arrive at a certain number, but one
thing I can tell you is it is a large number and they are being profiled for
prosecution.
“It is indeed a large number and I’m not in a position to
give you the precise number as at now because the profiling and investigation
are ongoing.”
He, however reiterated the government resolve to invoke the
full wrath of the law on anyone that may be sponsoring terrorism in the
country.
He said, “The message is clear: nobody is going to be
spared, no stone will be left unturned. We shall certainly and aggressively
pursue those people that are involved in terrorist financing as far as the
Nigerian state is concerned.”
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