As the menace of terrorism and financial impropriety persists, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to disrupting terrorist financing channels, a crucial step towards restoring transparency and accountability in the financial sector.
On Wednesday, ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Aliyu, SAN, reiterated the commission’s commitment to preventing terrorism financing and violent extremism at a multi-stakeholder national dialogue hosted by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, in partnership with Transparency International Nigeria and the Inter-Governmental Action Against Money Laundering in West Africa, at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
Demola Bakare, the voice of the ICPC, unveiled a significant development in a statement, giving off a glimpse into the commission’s solid commitment to exposing and combating corruption.
Bakare pointed out that the ICPC Chairman’s speech emphasized the commission’s importance as a beacon of light, especially in the North-East, where its work is instrumental in promoting peace and development.
Demola said, “He underscored ICPC’s relentless efforts in conveying a resolute message to the Nigerian populace, affirming its steadfast commitment to combat terrorism financing directly.
“According to him, by targeting the root causes of illicit financial flows, ICPC aims not only to disrupt terrorist funding channels but also to uphold the integrity of global financial systems.
“The ICPC Chairman also outlined the Commission’s determination to dismantle intricate networks facilitating illicit financial flows, which sustain terrorism through arms procurement, terrorist recruitment, and operational logistics.
“He stressed the essential nature of addressing terrorism financing, highlighting its pivotal role in debilitating extremist groups’ operational capacities and restoring peace and security to the northeast region of the country.”
He added that Aliyu identified poverty and illiteracy as key drivers of terrorism in Nigeria noting that addressing these underlying issues is imperative to combat extremism and violent dissent.
The ICPC boss emphasized the direct correlation between governance failures, corruption, and the prevalence of poverty and illiteracy, emphasizing the ICPC’s proactive role in combating these vices to prevent the proliferation of extremism and terrorism.
Recognizing the complexity of the fight against terrorism financing, Dr Aliyu emphasized ICPC’s readiness to lead collaborative efforts with international partners, law enforcement agencies, and financial institutions noting that ICPC’s efforts not only align with its mandate to prevent and combat corruption but also play a crucial role in safeguarding national and global security against the scourge of terrorism.
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According to him, the ICPC is tackling corruption and terrorism head-on by deploying a sophisticated strategy that unmasks, pursues, and dismantles the illicit financial networks that underpin terrorist operations, thereby protecting national and global security.
Auwal Musa, at the helm of CISLAC, expressed grave concerns over the escalating financing of terrorism in Nigeria, highlighting the country’s deteriorating global terrorism standings and the government’s recent revelations on entities supporting terrorist networks.
The CISLAC leader urged concerted efforts from all stakeholders to combat terrorism, warning of its crippling consequences on poverty levels and internal displacement, which threaten the very fabric of Nigerian society.
In a similar vein, Economic and Financial Crime Commission Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, drew attention to the unrelenting plight of Nigerians in the Northeast, who have been trapped in a cycle of violence and terror perpetrated by insurgents, bandits, and kidnappers.
According to the EFCC chairman, the persistence of terrorism despite various initiatives underscores the need for a united front among anti-corruption agencies, military, and paramilitary forces to tackle the financing of terrorism and ultimately dismantle its grip on the region.