Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), says Federal Government is set to prosecute some prominent Nigerians and businessmen for financing terrorism.
But Malami did not reveal the identities of the suspects or the number of such prominent individuals to be prosecuted.
The AGF disclosed this while speaking with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He explained that the profiling of the suspects started with the recent convictions of some Nigerians on terrorism financing in the United Arab Emirates.
Malami said an investigation had revealed that the suspects being profiled were culpable and therefore must be prosecuted.
The minister said, “Sometimes back, there were certain convictions of Nigerians allegedly involved in terrorism financing in the United Arab Emirates.
“That gave rise to a wider and far-reaching investigation in Nigeria and I am happy to report that arising from the wider coverage investigation that has been conducted in Nigeria, a number of people, both institutional and otherwise, were found to be culpable.
“I mean reasonable grounds for suspicion of terrorism financing have been established, or perhaps have been proven to be in existence in respect of the transactions of certain high-profile individuals and businessmen across the country.
“I am happy to report that investigation has been ongoing for long and it has reached an advanced stage.
“Arising from the investigation, there exists, certainly, reasonable grounds for suspicion that a lot of Nigerians, high-profile, institutional, and otherwise, are involved in terrorism financing and they are being profiled for prosecution.
“In essence, it is indeed true that the government is prosecuting and it is indeed initiating processes of prosecuting those high-profile individuals that are found to be financing terrorism. It is indeed true.”
The minister, however, declined to disclose the number of suspects to be prosecuted, saying investigation had yet to be concluded.
But he said those involved were in large number.
Malami said, “As to the number, an investigation is ongoing and it has to be conclusive before one can arrive at a certain number, but one thing I can tell you is it is a large number and they are being profiled for prosecution.
“It is indeed a large number and I am not in a position to give you the precise number as of now because the profiling and investigation are ongoing.”
The minister assured that the Federal Government would not spare anybody found culpable.
“The message is clear: nobody is going to be spared, no stone will be left unturned. We shall certainly and aggressively pursue those people that are involved in terrorist financing as far as the Nigerian state is concerned,” he stated.