A retired Nigerian Army Major General, Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi, has demanded a thorough investigation into the release of 48 suspects linked to terrorism financing, including a figure flagged by foreign intelligence agencies as a senior Boko Haram leader, who were earlier held by the military.
Ali-Keffi, who was appointed in October 2020 by former President Muhammadu Buhari to lead the covert Operation Service Wide (OSW), said the circumstances surrounding the release raised serious national security concerns.
OSW was tasked with investigating terrorism financiers and collaborators and comprised personnel from the military, intelligence and security agencies, as well as legal officers from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Speaking in an interview with SaharaReporters, Ali-Keffi disclosed that the task force collaborated with about 33 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom and European Union, under the cover of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
He alleged that the National Assembly failed to probe the matter due to what he described as compromise involving a former Army chief.
The retired general said OSW arrested 48 individuals identified as terrorism financiers, including one described as a principal Boko Haram leader by Western and Middle Eastern intelligence agencies.
“A significant amount of the huge funds meant for counterterrorism were shared amongst prominent military and government officials including National Assembly members and others,” he said.
“Putting the terrorism financing suspects on trial would have exposed the misappropriation of these counterterrorism funds and all the beneficiaries. That is why nothing has been done.”
He alleged that the NFIU traced large sums of counterterrorism funds diverted through some of the arrested suspects who operated Bureau De Change firms as fronts.
“These funds were laundered on behalf of top military and government officials,” Ali-Keffi said. “We should not forget that these same suspects also moved funds for Boko Haram operations.”
Ali-Keffi questioned the release of Hima Abubakar, whose $600 million account was allegedly traced by the NFIU to an offshore account.
“First, who ordered the release of the 48 terror financing suspects held in military custody? All those who played a part should be identified,” he said.
“Secondly, why were they released without being put on trial?”
“Thirdly, why did the government request the US to unfreeze the $600m of Hima Abubakar traced by the NFIU to an overseas offshore account?”
He recalled that Abubakar had been declared wanted by Nigerian and Nigerien authorities and was earlier indicted by the Committee on Defence and Arms Procurement (CADEP) for irregularities in arms procurement.
“So why did we request the US to unfreeze his account after CADEP found him liable of owing the country a huge amount of money?” he asked.
Ali-Keffi also expressed concern over the release of Alhaji Saidu Ahmed, also known as Saidu Gold, who he said was identified as a top Boko Haram leader.
“It is laughable that Saidu Gold was released from Army detention and allowed to walk free despite the abundance of evidence OSW had,” he said.
He referenced intelligence documents from the United Arab Emirates, which allegedly showed that Saidu Gold recruited six individuals later jailed in Dubai for terrorism-related offences.
“Yet, for some insane reasons, we didn’t even put him on trial,” he added.
The retired general further recalled that the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, had initiated a forensic audit into counterterrorism funds and unexecuted procurement projects.
“He died three days before he was to act on the report,” Ali-Keffi said, alleging that the audit was suppressed to conceal fund diversion.
Ali-Keffi called for a full-scale investigation into the handling of terrorism financing cases and counterterrorism funds.
“If the NFIU under OSW should ever make its investigations public, I can assure you there will be a tsunami in Nigeria,” he said.
“Many military and government officials, including distinguished members of the National Assembly, would be implicated.”
