By Olawale Lamina
In an effort to check the high incident of terrorism and financial misconduct in the country, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, has reaffirmed its commitment to combating the menace of illicit Financial flows into the country and elsewhere around the world.
The ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, on Wednesday highlighted this during a Multi-Stakeholders’ National Dialogue on Preventing Terrorism Financing and Violent Extremism, organized by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, in partnership with Transparency International in Nigeria TI-Nigeria and the Inter-Governmental Action Against Money Laundering in West Africa, GIABA ECOWAS, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel, FCT Abuja.
In his address, the ICPC Chairman emphasized the Commission’s role as a beacon of hope, particularly in Nigeria’s North-Eastern region, underscoring the Commission’s relentless efforts in conveying a resolute message to the Nigerian populace, affirming its steadfast commitment to combat terrorism financing frontally.
He stressed that 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 the well entrenched networks facilitating illicit financial flows, which sustain terrorism through arms procurement, terrorists recruitment and operational logistics.
Dr. Aliyu stressed the 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.
But the ICPC boss identified poverty and illiteracy as key drivers of terrorism in Nigeria, noting that addressing these underlying issues is imperative to fighting extremism and violent dissent in the country.
He stressed on the direct correlation between governance failures, corruption and the prevalence of poverty and illiteracy, emphasizing the ICPC’s proactive role in combating the vices to prevent the proliferation of extremism and terrorism.
In acknowledging 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. He pointed out 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.
He expressed the fact that through a comprehensive strategy encompassing identification, tracking, and disruption of illicit funds fueling terrorist activities, the ICPC has continued to justify its mandate of combating corruption and thereby significantly contributing to national and global security.
On his part, Auwal Ibrahim Musa, the Executive Director of CISLAC, echoed concerns over the escalating financing of terrorist activities in Nigeria, citing adverse global terrorism indices and recent government identifications of entities involved in terrorism financing.
The CISLAC boss, called for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to deal with the menace of terrorism and its adverse effects on poverty rates and internal displacement in the country.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede noted the prolonged suffering endured by Nigerians in the Northeast due to insurgency, banditry and kidnapping.
The EFCC chairman stated that sadly, despite numerous interventions, the situation had persisted, necessitating collaborative efforts among anti-graft agencies, including the military and para-military organizations to combat terrorism financing effectively.
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