The Federal Government has announced that over 730 individuals have been convicted for terrorism-related offences, highlighting its intensified efforts to curb terrorism financing and dismantle illicit financial networks.
The National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major General Adamu Laka, disclosed this on Monday during an on-site meeting with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Abuja.
He noted that more than 90 of these convictions were secured with direct support from the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), underscoring the critical role of inter-agency collaboration in tracking and disrupting the financial operations of terrorist groups.
“Disrupting the financial pipelines of terrorist organisations remains central to our national counterterrorism strategy,” Laka stated. “Our ability to prosecute over 730 terrorism-linked cases is a testament to the effectiveness of our coordinated national approach.”
He praised the collaboration between the NFIU and other security and intelligence agencies, which he said had significantly reduced the flow of illicit funds into terrorist operations across the country.
Laka also commended the Joint Standard Investigation Committee on Terrorism Financing for its pivotal role in strengthening Nigeria’s investigative and prosecutorial capabilities on complex financial crimes.
He added that the current simulation exercise was part of efforts to assess Nigeria’s institutional preparedness ahead of the FATF evaluation, which will determine whether the country can be removed from the organisation’s Grey List.
“The strength of our collective preparation will determine the success of the upcoming FATF visit and, ultimately, Nigeria’s removal from the Grey List,” he said.
In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, Hajiya Hafsat Bakari, said Nigeria had made notable progress in meeting the FATF’s requirements, with work well underway on all 19 action items outlined in the national action plan.
“This visit provides an opportunity to showcase our progress and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to a robust FATF framework,” Bakari said. “The eyes of the global FATF network are on Nigeria, and expectations are high.”
She noted that the FATF will be deploying a team of 11 assessors to evaluate Nigeria’s performance across all areas of concern, a sign of growing international confidence in the country’s reforms.
Bakari further revealed that Nigeria had been invited to participate as a guest member of the FATF, allowing the country to contribute under its own flag to global discussions and initiatives.
“While guest membership is not full membership, it is a clear recognition of the progress we’ve made and an important step toward securing a permanent seat at the table,” she added.
