The Federal Government on Friday, said it was profiling a large number of prominent Nigerians whose activities have proved that they have reasonable links to the financing of terrorism across the country.
It stated that the recent arrest of an undisclosed number of suspects was as a result of the conviction of some Nigerians on terrorism financing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, in Abuja, said ongoing investigations have given reasonable grounds to prosecute the high profile Nigerians and institutions across the country.
“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 and I am 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 on reasonable grounds for suspicion of terrorism financing.
“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.”
He added that “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.
“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,” he declared.
