FG will not name, shame terrorism financiers – Minister

Nigeria’s Minister of Justice stated that they will not publicly disgrace anybody responsible for funding terrorists within the country.

Yesterday, on the eve of the 27th Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) Ministerial Committee Meeting in Abuja, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), revealed that the federal government has identified terrorism financiers in the country.

This was even as the government has flagged off the release of 4,068 prisoners in various detention institutions across the country, reports TNT.

According to Fagbemi, the government won’t be naming names because doing so could compromise the investigation or apprehension of other suspects.

While praising GIABA’s efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in West Africa, Fagbemi earlier in his speech emphasised that it is the responsibility of member states to provide all the support that is necessary for the group to carry out its work effectively and efficiently.

“As a competent and technically assured organisation, GIABA can and should present the hopes and quirks of our region to the rest of the global Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) network.

“I also think we need to do some soul-searching and evaluate where we’ve gone wrong. Fagbemi remarked that “considerable room for improvement exists across the region in terms of the efficacy of our AML/CFT/CPF frameworks.”

To ensure the safety, security, and prosperity of their countries, region, continent, and global community, he urged all member states to recommit to becoming champions for truly effective national AML/CFT/CPF systems. “To become leaders who push our national institutions to perform to the highest of their capabilities,” he said.

This was even as the government has flagged off the release of 4,068 prisoners in various correctional centres across the country, reports TNT.

Mr. Tunji Ojo, the Minister of the Interior, explained in an interview that those being released are those who have committed nonviolent offences and who have been detained in prison due to their inability to pay certain fines.

He said he had previously offered to help pay off the charges by soliciting N585 million in corporate social responsibility (CSR) donations.

“We have been able to generate the money and we have been able to offset the fines. That’s how serious we are about keeping our commitment,” he remarked.

The minister remarked on the correctional facility’s revolutionary nature.

Inmates’ basic rights will be maintained and they will be rehabilitated so that they can be reintegrated into society. Ojo argued that the purpose of the justice system should extend beyond only punishing offenders and instead focus on rehabilitating and reintegrating them into society.

Mr. Edwin Harris, the Director General of GIABA, applauded the member governments for their dedication to combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism in West Africa.

However, he cautioned that such tactics could be more efficient.

A significant obstacle in our fight against transnational crimes is the low degree of efficacy. To delay this call to action would be disastrous for the implementation of effective measures to discourage and prevent criminal behaviour, Harris said.