The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the conviction of over 730 individuals for terrorism-related offences, marking a significant stride in the country’s ongoing battle against terrorist financing and illicit financial flows.
Speaking at an on-site meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Monday in Abuja, Major General Adamu Laka, National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), revealed that more than 90 of the convictions were achieved through direct support from the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
“Disrupting the financial lifelines of terrorist organisations is central to our national counterterrorism strategy,” Laka said.
He praised the success of coordinated efforts between law enforcement, intelligence units, and financial regulatory bodies, emphasizing that inter-agency collaboration has significantly curtailed the flow of funds to extremist groups operating within the country.
“Our ability to prosecute over 730 terrorism-linked cases is a testament to the effectiveness of our coordinated national approach,” Laka added.
The NCTC boss also acknowledged the critical role played by the Joint Standard Investigation Committee on Terrorism Financing, describing it as pivotal in strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to investigate and prosecute complex financial crimes.
The event featured a simulation exercise aimed at testing Nigeria’s readiness ahead of a crucial FATF evaluation, which will determine whether the country can be removed from the FATF Grey List — a designation for jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing frameworks.
“The strength of our collective preparation will determine the success of the upcoming FATF visit and, ultimately, Nigeria’s removal from the FATF Grey List,” Laka said.
In her remarks, Hajiya Hafsat Bakari, Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, highlighted that significant progress had been made in fulfilling the 19 action items outlined in Nigeria’s FATF action plan.
She noted that the size of the international review team coming to Nigeria,11 experts covering all immediate outcomes reflected the FATF’s growing confidence in the country’s reform trajectory.
“This is a major sign of trust,” Bakari said. “Considering how difficult it has been in the past for the FATF to deploy reviewers to some African nations, this is a win for Nigeria.”
Bakari also announced that Nigeria had been invited to join FATF as a guest member, allowing the country to participate under its own flag in discussions and international projects, a move she described as a step toward full membership.
“This is a reaffirmation that we are on the right path,” she added.
Nigeria’s efforts come at a time when global scrutiny of financial systems is increasing, and FATF’s assessments play a critical role in determining a country’s international financial credibility and access.
