Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party, has pressed the Federal Government to publicly identify oil thieves and financiers of terrorism across the nation.
He said that it was crucial to make sure there were no “holy cows” in the war on terrorism, corruption, and economic sabotage nationwide.
On Wednesday, the former governor of Anambra State tweeted the request, adding that the top government needed to step up.
Clariform reports that the federal government claims that the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit has identified 96 terrorist funders as well as their 424 associates and followers.
Recall that on February 3, 2022, when listing the accomplishments of the administration, Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed announced the development and stated that the fraud unit had revealed 123 firms and 33 bureau de change operators connected to terrorism in the nation.
Mohammed omitted to mention the sponsors’ and organizations’ affiliations with terrorism, though.
NOTABLE QUOTES
According to Alhaji Lai Mohammed:
“For its part, the analysis by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, 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.”
He continued by saying that N3.0 trillion in VAT and N3.7 trillion in withholding tax were owed to the government as a result of the NFIU’s investigation of tax evasion and tax avoidance tied to corruption.
In his words:
“The 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.”
He disclosed that the NFIU shared intelligence on terrorism financing with 19 nations regarding Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry, kidnapping, and other issues.
Lai Mohammed continued: “During the same period, 2020-2021, the organization returned fraudulently-obtained funds totaling US$103.7m, 3,000 Pound Sterling; 7,695 Singapore Dollar and 1,091 Euros to 11 countries of victims who came into the country.”
However, the Labour party presidential candidate said on Wednesday that the government of President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) should openly identify individuals responsible for the threat of oil theft and financing of terrorism in Nigeria.
The omnibus tweet from the Labour Party flagbearer, Mr Peter Obi reads:
“I am struck and intrigued by the news report linking “highly placed” Nigerians to oil theft. Same has been the case with financing insurgency and Boko Haram. When will FGN summon the political will to publicly name such persons?”
“In the National Interest, there should be no sacred cows – PO”
