The Federal Government says it has secured over 730 convictions for terrorism-related offences, in Nigeria’s efforts to dismantle terrorist financing networks and exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
Adamu Laka, National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), disclosed this during an on-site visit by a FATF inspection team in Abuja.
The visit is part of the evaluation process by the global anti-money laundering and terrorism financing watchdog to assess Nigeria’s readiness for removal from its grey list.
According to Laka, more than 90 of the convictions were achieved through the direct support of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), a key agency in tracking financial flows linked to terrorism.
He described the figures as a demonstration of Nigeria’s strengthened inter-agency cooperation and commitment to tackling terrorism financing.
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“Disrupting the financial lifelines of terrorist organisations is central to our national counterterrorism strategy.
“Our ability to prosecute over 730 terrorism-linked cases is a testament to the effectiveness of our coordinated national approach”, Laka said.
He further commended the NFIU’s collaboration with law enforcement and intelligence agencies, crediting their joint efforts for the significant reduction in the inflow of illicit funds into terror groups operating within Nigeria.
Highlighting institutional preparedness, the NCTC chief also praised the work of the Joint Standard Investigation Committee on Terrorism Financing.
He said their role had been crucial in building Nigeria’s capacity to investigate and prosecute complex financial crimes, especially ahead of the FATF’s final assessment.
A key component of Nigeria’s preparation is a simulation exercise designed to test how well the country can respond to the FATF’s evaluation process.
“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 added.
In her remarks, Hajiya Hafsat Bakari, Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, affirmed that Nigeria had made impressive strides in fulfilling the requirements of the FATF action plan.
She said progress had been recorded across all 19 action items that the FATF expects Nigeria to address.
Bakari described the on-site evaluation as an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s transformation and the depth of its commitment to aligning with international anti-financial crime standards.
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“The importance of this assessment is underscored by the size of the team coming to Nigeria. We will be hosting 11 reviewers covering all the immediate outcomes in our action plan”, she said.
She also noted that Nigeria’s growing recognition within the global financial oversight community is evident in FATF’s invitation for Nigeria to participate as a guest member.
“This essentially means that Nigeria will participate under its own flag in the discussions and projects of the FATF.
“While it is not yet full membership, it’s a significant step forward in gaining a permanent seat at the table”, Bakari explained.
FATF placed Nigeria on its grey list in 2022 over strategic deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and terrorism financing frameworks.
According to analysts, the grey list designation can affect foreign investment, limit access to global financial systems, and impact international trade if not swiftly addressed.
