ABUJA, NIGERIA – Nigeria’s Federal Government has revealed that over 730 individuals have been convicted for terrorism-related offences, as part of intensified efforts to combat terrorism financing and dismantle illicit financial networks. This disclosure was made by Major General Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), during an on-site meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Abuja on Monday.
Major General Laka stated that more than 90 of these convictions were secured with direct support from the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), underscoring the success of inter-agency collaboration in tracking and disrupting financial networks that support terrorist groups. “Disrupting the financial lifelines of terrorist organisations is central to our national counterterrorism strategy,” he said, adding that the ability to prosecute over 730 terrorism-linked cases is “a testament to the effectiveness of our coordinated national approach.” He also commended the Joint Standard Investigation Committee on Terrorism Financing for its pivotal role in enhancing Nigeria’s capacity to investigate and prosecute complex financial crimes.
The NCTC coordinator explained that the meeting and a simulation exercise were designed to evaluate Nigeria’s institutional preparedness ahead of the FATF evaluation, which will determine whether Nigeria exits the organisation’s Grey List. Hafsat Bakari, Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, reported “impressive progress” towards completing all 19 action items on their action plans. She noted that Nigeria has been invited to join FATF as a guest member, a “sign of confidence” and a step towards having a “seat at the table.”
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