Nigerian govt designates Simon Ekpa, IPOB members, Lakurawa, firms as terrorism financiers

Chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, the NSC said the persons and businesses, “were recommended for designation following their involvement with terrorism financing.”

The Nigerian government has designated self-styled leader of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), Simon Ekpa, the Lakurawa terror group and 15 entities as terrorism financiers. Among the 15 businesss entities, 13 are either members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or BRGIE, according to documents released by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC) after its meeting on 6 March.

The latest designation of terrorism financiers, according to the NSC, was approved by President Bola Tinubu. The designated IPOB or BRGIE members include Godstime Iyare, Francis Mmaduabuchi, John Onwumere, Chikwuka Eze, Edwin Chukwuedo, Chinwendu Owoh and Ginika Orji. The Eastern Security Network (ESN), an armed terror group operating under the aegis of IPOB as a paramilitary wing of the organisation, has been inflicting terror on people in the South-east. The group is believed to be inspired by Mr Ekpa’s digital campaign of terror from his hideout in Finland. Others are Awo Uchechukwu, Mercy Ali, Ohagwu Juliana, Eze Okpoto, Nwaobi Chimezie and Ogomu Kewe.

Two business entities, Igwe Ka Ala Enterprises and Seficuvi Global Company, were also so designated. Chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, the NSC said the persons and businesses “were recommended for designation following their involvement with terrorism financing.” Their designation was in line with Section 54 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, the NSC stated, outlining four major sanctions against the designated persons. First, the NSC ordered an immediate identification and freezing “without prior notice all funds, assets, and any other economic resources belonging to the designated persons in your possession and report same to the Sanctions Committee.”

“Report to the Sanctions Committee any assets frozen or actions taken in compliance with the prohibition requirements,” the NSC’s second sanction read.“Immediately file a Suspicious Transactions Report to the NFIU for further analysis on the financial activities of such an individual or entity,” read the third sanction. Lastly, the NSC ordered that “all cases of name matching in financial transactions prior to or after receipt of this list” be reported as a “Suspicious Transactions Report to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). The NSC further extended the sanctions to “all funds or other assets that are owned or controlled by the designated persons and entities, and not only those that are tied to a particular act, plot, or threat of terrorism or terrorism financing.”

It stated that the sanction should be extended to “those funds or other assets that are wholly or jointly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by designated persons or entities.” The funds or other assets derived or generated from funds or other assets owned or controlled directly or indirectly by designated persons or entities will also be affected, according to NSC. The funds or other assets of persons and entities acting on behalf of, or at the direction of designated persons or entities will also be affected, the body stated, urging all reporting entities to comply.

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