FG’s indictment of Igboho, Nnamdi Kanu causes tension in Justice Ministry

Palpable tension, at the weekend, enveloped the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, following the allegation by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), that the leader of Yoruba Nation agitation, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, was sponsoring Boko Haram terrorism and allied crimes, using nine different Nigerian banks in which he maintained 43 accounts, among other indictments.

A highly placed insider told our reporter at the weekend that there was tension in the Ministry which is not unconnected with the statement by the Honourable Minister of Justice which indicted Igboho and Nnamdi Kanu, the detained Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The insider source said there have been calls from different quarters wanting to pressure the Minister to drop the accusations.

Malami had said in an address he read during a Press Conference in Abuja, Friday, titled: “Investigation Reports On Acts Of Terrorism And Allied Offences Perpetrated By Nnamdi Kanu And Report On the Sponsors And Financiers Of Sunday Igboho And Associates,” that the Federal Government has received the report on financers of Adeniyi Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Sunday Igboho.

Malami also stated in the six-page document by a Presidential Panel headed by him, which was made available to News Express that “the major financier of the fugitive and separatists was found to be a Federal Law Maker in the National Assembly.”

The report revealed that Sunday Igboho is a Director and signatory to Adesun International Concept Limited registered on 23rd April, 2010. Adesun International Concept Limited also has Oladele Oyetunji and Aderopo Adeyemo as Directors.

The report also links “Sunday Igboho to 43 bank accounts in 9 banks”.

After several telephone calls to get clearer picture of the banks involved in the allegations, the insider returned the reporter’s calls.

Pressed to answer if the banks were first generation or in the category of new generation banks, the insider refused to disclose the category.

Asked to name at least one of the nine banks, he said it is a difficult thing to say. “But I can tell you there is tension here,” he said.

The report read by Malami alleged that: “A total sum of N127 million was received by Igboho from his financiers between Oct. 23, 2013 and Sept. 28, 2020 through Adesun International Concept Ltd accounts.

“A total sum of N273 million transaction outflows was recorded from Igboho’s account between March 15, 2013 and March 11, 2021.

“Investigation reveals that Adesun International Concept Ltd (belonging to Igboho) transferred the sum of N12,750,000 to Abbal Bako & Sons.

“It might be recalled that Abbal Bako & Sons and its promoter Abdullahi Umar Usman are suspects in the on-going Joint Terrorist Financing Investigation.

“Abdullahi Umar Usman is by way of financial transaction connected to Surajo Muhammad (who was sentenced to life imprisonment in UAE on charges of financing terrorism (Boko Haram),”

Malami said that the major financier of the fugitive and separatists was found to be a federal lawmaker in the National Assembly, arguing that the report showed the nexus between separatists’ agitation, terrorism financing and disruptions of peace in the country.

The Attorney- General of the Federation during the briefing explained that it became necessary for the Federal Government to put in place, the presidential ad-hoc committee on the heel of re-arrest of Kanu in June.

The committee is made up of 24 members drawn from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Information, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Malami said the committee made a number of findings and investigated widespread violence in different parts of the country.

He said that consequent upon the committee’s investigations, it released its report that indicted Igboho and Kanu.