BREAKING: FG Names Fresh 96 Top Boko Haram And ISWAP Sponsors (Full List)

FG has released a Fresh list containing another 96 Top Boko Haram And ISWAP Sponsors, on Thursday.

Brand News Day Nigeria reports that the Federal Government has said the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has uncovered 96 financiers of terrorism, especially those backing Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP Sponsors in Nigeria.

Moving on, this online news platform has gathered that the NFIU, in its findings confirmed that it has unmasked 424 associates/supporters of the financiers, about 123 companies and 33 bureaux de change linked with terrorism.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed made the disclosures at a briefing on the anti-corruption fight of President Muhammadu Buhari.

ISWAP Sponsors

Alhaji Lai Mohammed comments go:

” For its part, the analysis by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), in 2020-2021, revealed 96 financiers of terrorism in Nigeria, 424 associates/supporters of the financiers, involvement of about 123 companies and 33 bureaux de change, in addition to identifying 26 suspected bandits/kidnappers and seven co-conspirators.

“The analysis has resulted in the arrest of 45 suspects who will soon face prosecution and seizure of assets. Also, from its analysis of tax evasion and tax avoidance linked to corruption, NFIU has identified N3,909,707,678,112.43 in VAT and N3,737,918,335,785.82 in Withholding Tax due to the Government.

“NFIU has also sent 1,165 intelligence reports on cases of corruption, money laundering and other serious offences to 27 domestic agencies for investigation, prosecution and asset recovery”.

Boko Haram Sponsors

According to him, ” On terrorism financing, NFIU had intelligence exchanges on Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry, kidnapping and others with 19 countries. During the same period, 2020-2021, the organization returned fraudulently-obtained funds totalling US$103,722,102.83, 3,000 Pound Sterling; 7,695 Singapore dollars and 1,091 Euros to 11 countries of victims who came into the country.”

Mohammed said President Buhari’s Whistle-Blower policy has led to the recovery of N700 billion.

BREAKING: FG Names Fresh 96 Top Boko Haram, ISWAP Sponsors (Full List)

The Minister further said:” The Whistle-blower Policy is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

“The policy is meant to encourage the voluntary disclosure of information about fraud, bribery and looted government funds, including financial misconduct and any other form of corruption or theft.

” The Whistle Blower whose information leads to recovery is entitled to 2.5 to 5% from the recovered funds. Information and tips received are usually referred to the EFCC, ICPC, and NFIU for further painstaking investigation. The policy has helped in the cleansing of IPPIS, led to compliance on TSA and enhanced the Procurement Act 2007.

“As of 2020, a total sum of N700 billion has been recovered through the Whistle-Blower Policy.”

ISWAP Meaning

The Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) is a militant group and administrative division of the Islamic State (IS), a Salafi jihadist militant group and unrecognised proto-state. ISWAP is primarily active in the Chad Basin and fights an extensive insurgency against the states of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. It is an offshoot of Boko Haram with which it has a violent rivalry; Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau killed himself in battle with ISWAP in 2021. ISWAP is the umbrella organization for all IS factions in West Africa including the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (IS-GS), although the actual ties between ISWAP and IS-GS are limited.