The Nigeria Sanctions Committee has officially designated 17 individuals and organizations as terrorism financiers. Among those listed are Simon Ekpa, Godstime Promise Iyare, Francis Mmaduabuchi, John Onwumere, Chikwuka Eze, Edwin Chukwuedo, Chinwendu Owoh, Ginika Orji, Awo Uchechukwu, and Mercy Ebere Ifeoma Ali. Additionally, the list includes Ohagwu Juliana, Eze Okpoto, Nwaobi Chimezie, Ogomu Kewe, Igwe Ka Ala Enterprises, Seficuvi Global Company, and Lakurawa Group.
According to a document released by the committee on Thursday, the list was approved by the President following a recommendation from the Attorney General of the Federation. The committee held a meeting on March 6, 2024, where these individuals and entities were identified for their alleged involvement in terrorism financing.
The document further stated that, in line with Section 54 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, financial institutions and other relevant stakeholders are required to:
(a) Immediately identify and freeze all funds, assets, and economic resources belonging to the designated individuals and entities without prior notice, and report these actions to the Sanctions Committee.
(b) Submit a report to the Sanctions Committee detailing any assets frozen or measures taken to comply with the sanctions.
(c) File a Suspicious Transactions Report (STR) with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) for further analysis of the financial activities of the listed individuals or entities.
(d) Report any instances of name matching in financial transactions, whether before or after receiving the list, as an STR to the NFIU.
The committee has also mandated the immediate freezing of bank accounts and financial instruments linked to the designated individuals and entities across all banks, payment platforms, and financial institutions. The directive extends to all accounts associated with the listed subjects, including those of signatories and directors for designated entities, to ensure full enforcement of the sanctions.
Financial institutions and other stakeholders have been instructed to enforce these measures and submit compliance reports to the Nigeria Sanctions Committee via the email addresses [email protected] and [email protected].
