By 
Abiodun OBA
The Federal Government says a good number of people, both institutional and otherwise, were found to be culpable of terrorism financing in the country and will soon be prosecuted.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who revealed this while answering questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday added that, they are being profiled for 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 investigation in Nigeria.
“I‘m happy to report that arising from the wider investigation that has been conducted in Nigeria, a number of people, both institutional and otherwise, were found to be culpable.
“I mean some 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 a 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 institutions and otherwise, are involved in terrorism financing and they are being profiled for prosecution.’’
According to the minister, the Federal Government is initiating processes of prosecuting those high-profile individuals that are found to be financing terrorism.
Although the names or number of those to be prosecuted for terrorism financing were not disclosed, the Minister however, said more discoveries were being made as fresh facts were being uncovered.
“As to the number, the 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 that it’s 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 of now because the profiling and investigation are ongoing,’’ he added.
Malami re-echoed the determination of the government to aggressively pursue those people that are involved in terrorist financing as far as the Nigerian State is concerned.
Comments