FG Prepares 400 Suspected Boko Haram Sponsors, BDC Operators’ Charges

THE Federal Government is set to arraign about 400 alleged Boko
Haram sponsors and financiers arrested in a nationwide operation
last month.

The businessmen, who included bureau de change operators, were
arrested in Kano, Borno, Abuja, Lagos, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kaduna and
Zamfara., Punch reports.

The PUNCH gathered on Monday that criminal charges bordering on
terrorism were already being prepared against them as
investigations continued into their nefarious activities.

The arrest of the men was sequel to the jailing of six Nigerians
in the United Arab Emirates over allegations of terrorism
financing.

The media aide to the Minister of Justice, Dr Umar Gwandu, told
our correspondent on Monday that the prosecution of the suspects
“will commence as quickly as possible.”

Gwandu hinted that charges would soon be preferred against the
suspects but he declined further comment when asked for update on
the investigation.

But findings indicated that the government was still probing the
level of the businessmen’s connections to the terrorist group.

Daily Trust had reported the arrest of the 400 suspected terror
financiers by the Defence Intelligence Agency in collaboration with
the Department of State Services, Nigerian Financial Intelligence
Unit and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

As part of the crackdown, billions of naira traced to businesses
belonging to persons of interest were said to have been blocked in
banks in series of “post no debit” letters sent out to banks by the
CBN and NFIU.

The apex bank had reportedly obtained court orders directing the
freezing of dozens of accounts flagged for suspicious
transactions.

The operation kicked off last year with massive gathering and
analysis of financial intelligence and uplink analysis, leading to
initial marking of some 60 businesses and individuals.

The list of affected persons comprised bureau de change
operators, gold miners and sellers, and other businessmen suspected
to have links with the Boko Haram insurgents.

In Kano, a major focus for the operation, some traders at the
foreign exchange open market in Wapa, Fagge Local Government, were
reportedly picked up on March 9th, 15th and 16th.

THE Federal Government is set to arraign about 400 alleged Boko
Haram sponsors and financiers arrested in a nationwide operation
last month.

The businessmen, who included bureau de change operators, were
arrested in Kano, Borno, Abuja, Lagos, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kaduna and
Zamfara., Punch reports.

The PUNCH gathered on Monday that criminal charges bordering on
terrorism were already being prepared against them as
investigations continued into their nefarious activities.

The arrest of the men was sequel to the jailing of six Nigerians
in the United Arab Emirates over allegations of terrorism
financing.

The media aide to the Minister of Justice, Dr Umar Gwandu, told
our correspondent on Monday that the prosecution of the suspects
“will commence as quickly as possible.”

Gwandu hinted that charges would soon be preferred against the
suspects but he declined further comment when asked for update on
the investigation.

But findings indicated that the government was still probing the
level of the businessmen’s connections to the terrorist group.

Daily Trust had reported the arrest of the 400 suspected terror
financiers by the Defence Intelligence Agency in collaboration with
the Department of State Services, Nigerian Financial Intelligence
Unit and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

As part of the crackdown, billions of naira traced to businesses
belonging to persons of interest were said to have been blocked in
banks in series of “post no debit” letters sent out to banks by the
CBN and NFIU.

The apex bank had reportedly obtained court orders directing the
freezing of dozens of accounts flagged for suspicious
transactions.

The operation kicked off last year with massive gathering and
analysis of financial intelligence and uplink analysis, leading to
initial marking of some 60 businesses and individuals.

The list of affected persons comprised bureau de change
operators, gold miners and sellers, and other businessmen suspected
to have links with the Boko Haram insurgents.

In Kano, a major focus for the operation, some traders at the
foreign exchange open market in Wapa, Fagge Local Government, were
reportedly picked up on March 9th, 15th and 16th.