TheCable

The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the disclose the religious body that has been laundering money for terrorists. 

BACKGROUND

On Wednesday, Ola Olukoyede, EFCC chairman, while speaking at a dialogue on ‘Youth, religion, and the fight against corruption’ in Abuja, said the agency has uncovered a religious organisation in the country that launders money for terrorists.

Olukoyede said the religious body has dragged the agency to court to prevent its leader from being interrogated, after laundered money was traced to the sect’s bank account.

He disclosed that the religious body obtained a court injunction restraining the commission from inviting, arresting or prosecuting its leader.

The EFCC chairman said the anti-graft agency has appealed the decision.

“As I stand before you, there is a matter we are handling of over N30 billion fleeced from Nigeria, and we were able to trace N7 billion to a particular religious body,” Olukoyede said.

‘REVELATION SENT SHOCKWAVES’

The SCSN in a joint statement by AbdurRasheed Hadiyatulla and Nafiu Baba-Ahmed, president and secretary-general of the council, called on the EFCC to make “immediate public clarification of the group and decisive action to address the disturbing nexus between religious groups and insurgency”.

“Regarding the recent disclosure by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) about religious groups sponsoring insurgency in Nigeria, the Council demands the Commission to disclose the identity of the religious body allegedly sponsoring terrorism/insurgency with ₦7 billion out of ₦13 billion traced to its account,” the statement reads.

“This revelation has sent shockwaves across the nation, raising concerns about potential fund misuse for activities threatening Nigeria’s peace and security.

“The gravity of the situation calls for immediate public clarification of the group and decisive action to address the disturbing nexus between religious groups and insurgency.

“Accordingly, we urgently call upon the EFCC to publish the list of all sponsors involved in criminal activities.

“The alleged disclosure of ₦7 billion linked to a religious group’s account is a matter of grave concern, and citizens demand proper legal action against sponsors and those found complicit in financing activities undermining the nation’s security.

“We further call on the EFCC to expedite the release of the list of sponsors and collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure prompt legal actions are taken.”