Ex-General Demands Probe Into Release Of 48 Terrorism Financing Suspects, Alleges High-Level Cover-Up

A retired Nigerian Army Major General, Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi, has called for a comprehensive investigation into the release of 48 terrorism financing suspects, including an individual identified by foreign intelligence agencies as a senior Boko Haram leader.

Ali-Keffi, who was appointed in October 2020 by former President Muhammadu Buhari to lead the covert Operation Service Wide (OSW), said the suspects were released from military custody without trial despite what he described as overwhelming evidence linking them to terrorism financing and insurgent activities.

Operation Service Wide was mandated to investigate terrorism financiers and collaborators and comprised personnel drawn from the military, intelligence and security agencies, as well as legal officers from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. SaharaReporters learnt that the task force collaborated with about 33 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, under the framework of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

In an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters, Ali-Keffi alleged that the National Assembly failed to investigate the matter due to compromise involving a former army chief.

According to him, the arrested suspects included a principal Boko Haram leader identified by Western and Middle Eastern intelligence agencies. He alleged that prosecuting the suspects would have exposed the diversion of counterterrorism funds allegedly shared among senior military officers, government officials and some lawmakers.

“A significant amount of funds meant for counterterrorism were diverted and laundered through Bureau De Change operators arrested as terrorism financing suspects,” Ali-Keffi said, adding that the same networks also moved funds for Boko Haram operations.

The retired general questioned who authorised the release of the suspects and why they were freed without being prosecuted. He also queried the government’s request to the United States to unfreeze $600 million linked to Hima Abubakar, a suspect previously declared wanted for terrorism financing by Nigerian and Nigerien authorities.

Ali-Keffi recalled that Abubakar had earlier been indicted by the Committee on Defence and Arms Procurement (CADEP) for arms procurement irregularities, questioning why his funds were unfrozen despite those findings.

He further raised concerns over the release of Alhaji Saidu Ahmed, also known as Saidu Gold, whom he described as a top Boko Haram leader. Ali-Keffi said intelligence findings, including Dubai court records, linked Saidu Gold to the recruitment of individuals jailed in the United Arab Emirates for terrorism-related offences.

“It is disturbing that such individuals were released despite the abundance of evidence available to OSW,” he said, alleging that the releases were intended to shield powerful interests.

Ali-Keffi also recalled that the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, had ordered a forensic audit of counterterrorism funds and military procurement contracts shortly before his death in an air crash, adding that the audit report was never acted upon.

He called for an independent probe into the handling of terrorism financing cases and the alleged diversion of counterterrorism funds, warning that public disclosure of OSW findings would implicate senior military officers, government officials and lawmakers.

As of the time of reporting, there has been no official response from the Nigerian Army or the Federal Government to the allegations.