The Nigerian government has officially declared the self-styled Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), Simon Ekpa, as a financier of terrorism in the country along with 15 other people.
In documents released on Thursday by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC), an independent body chaired by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), designating Ekpa and other individuals as terrorist financiers, the federal government also placed sanctions on them including freezing their accounts and other assets in the country.
The government documents reveal that the NSC has mandated all financial institutions in the country to identify and freeze all accounts linked to the designated individuals and entities without prior notice.
According to the document, the approved sanctions extended to “all funds, assets, and economic resources owned or controlled by the designated persons, including those that are jointly owned, indirectly controlled, or derived from their activities.”
It further stated that all financial institutions are required to file ‘Suspicious Transactions Reports’ to the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) for further analysis.
The FG stressed that the “freezing measures will apply to all accounts associated with the designated subjects, including those linked to their signatories and directors, to ensure comprehensive enforcement of the sanctions regime.”
“Compliance reports are to be sent to the Nigeria Sanctions Committee Secretariat for review,” the document said.
“For designated entities, this should include accounts linked to their signatories and directors to ensure comprehensive enforcement of the sanctions regime.”
According to the NSC, Ekpa, who resides at Kauppakatu 6 B, Zip: 15140, Lahti, Finland, with international passport number FP2927082, facilitated at least 49 fundraisers in different countries between October 2023 and September 2024.
It also claimed that through his social media platforms, particularly X, he ordered attacks on government buildings, military bases, and paramilitary posts across southeastern Nigeria.
“These attacks reportedly resulted in significant loss of lives, including security personnel and civilians, as well as widespread destruction of government and public property.. Born on March 21, 1985. His known contact numbers include +35803555858 and 08063892983.”
According to the documents, others listed in the designation include:
“Awo Uchechukwu, born on December 11, 1978, who was declared a terrorist financier and identified as a commander of the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
“It is alleged that he received direct funding from Simon Ekpa to finance the group’s activities. His First Bank account, 3060144916, was cited as a major financial channel.
“Godstime Promise Iyare, born on May 20, 1996, was identified as a key figure in local fundraising activities supporting terrorism.
“Authorities traced his involvement through a United Bank for Africa (UBA) account, 2212655102, which was allegedly used to collect funds from supporters in Nigeria.
“Security agencies also discovered that his mobile phone number was linked to the National Identity Numbers (NIN) of two other individuals—Chukwuekwu Iyare and Helen Ugbomor Lovelyn Iyare.
“John Anayo Onwumere, born on March 5, 1987, was identified for using a Sterling Bank account, 0026224269, to receive funds from IPOB supporters.
“Chikwuka Godwin Eze, born on May 5, 1975, was named for operating an Access Bank account, 0108595489, that allegedly served as a collection point for contributions from members of a group identified as Odumegu State Defacto and Urhobo Isoko State Defacto.
“Francis Chukwuedo Mmadubuchi, born on September 27, 1987, was also listed.
“Investigators reported that his Moniepoint account, 8196060258, received donations from members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
“Edwin Augustine Chukwuedo, born on May 27, 1983, whose Flutterwave account, 9461730261, was allegedly used to channel funds for terrorist activities.
“Chiwendu Joy Owoh, born on February 10, 1982, was accused of helping to organise financial contributions within Nigeria through a Moniepoint account, 6474876289.
“Ginika Jane Orji, born on October 5, 1995, was also placed on the sanctions list. Her Opay account, 8039231985, was reportedly used to collect funds from IPOB members in local chapters across Nigeria.
Others are Ohagwu Nneka Juliana, Eze Chibuike Okpoto, Mercy Ebere Ifeoma Ali, and Nwaobi Henry.
“In line with Section 54 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, the Government directed banks and other financial service providers to identify and freeze all assets owned, controlled, or associated with the designated individuals and groups.
“This includes funds in accounts owned jointly or indirectly by them, as well as those managed on their behalf by third parties.
“It further urged businesses and other institutions to monitor transactions for any links to the sanctioned individuals and report any findings to the Nigeria Sanctions Committee at info@nigsac.gov.ng.”
Source: Ripples
