FCT, Abuja – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government has designated and frozen the bank accounts of Biafra separatist leader, Simon Ekpa and 16 individuals and organizations for allegedly sponsoring terrorism.
The Nigeria Sanctions Committee also ordered the freezing of their financial instruments and entities across multiple banks, payment platforms, and financial institutions.
As reported by The Punch, the list of the blacklisted Nigerians was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu upon the recommendation of the Attorney General of the Federation.
According to government documents, the development was in accordance with Section 54 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The other affected individuals are:
“The Nigeria Sanctions Committee held a meeting on March 6, 2024, where specific individuals and entities were recommended for designation following their involvement with terrorism financing.
“The Attorney General of the Federation, with the approval of the President, has thereupon designated the following individuals and entities to be listed on the Nigeria Sanctions List.”
The committee also stated that financial institutions and relevant stakeholders have been instructed to enforce the sanctions and submit compliance reports to the Nigeria Sanctions Committee via secretariat@nigsac.gov.ng and info@nigsac.gov.ng.
“Freezing measures should be extended to all accounts associated with the designated subjects. For designated entities, this should include accounts linked to their signatories and directors to ensure comprehensive enforcement of the sanctions regime,”
Legit.ng also reported that Finnish authorities froze the assets of Ekpa and several companies connected to him as part of ongoing investigations into his alleged terrorism activities.
Ekpa is currently imprisoned in Kylmäkoski vankila, a facility known for its strict conditions and high-profile inmates, including those with ties to organized crime.
Legit.ng reported that Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed leader of IPOB, was arrested by the Finnish police and later imprisoned by a Finnish district court for “spreading terrorist propaganda” on social media.
Tinubu breaks silence on Simon Ekpa’s detention
Meanwhile, reported that Tinubu welcomed the intervention of the Finish government, with Ekpa’s arrest and detention, saying the government will not tolerate actions that could lead to divisiveness.
The president was speaking when he received the Letters of Credence from the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Sanna Selin, at the State House in Abuja.
Tinubu commended the Finnish authorities for the timely intervention that safeguarded the country’s integrity and mitigated an action that threatened peaceful co-existence.
