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FG, UNODC Join Forces Against Illicit Funds
The Federal Government has partnered with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against illicit financial flows, terrorism financing, and money laundering within the solid minerals sector.
This was the fallout of a meeting between the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, and UNODC officials held at the ministry headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the media aide to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, the initiative seeks to enhance the capacity of Nigeria’s criminal justice institutions to detect, investigate and prosecute financial crimes linked to illegal mining and the financing of armed groups.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja, UNODC’s Counter-Terrorism Project Coordinator, Mr. Tom Parker, commended Nigeria’s recent strides in sanitising the mining sector, particularly the establishment of the Mining Marshals, a specialised security unit drawn from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
He said the project will be funded by the Government of Canada.
Parker, who led a team of project officers including Inneke Geysens-Bourgions and Nicole Andersen, noted that the UN agency would collaborate closely with the Ministry to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
In his response, the minister described the partnership as a major boost to the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms in the sector, especially in tackling illegal mining and associated security threats.
“We are excited about this collaboration. The support from the UNODC and the Canadian Government will further strengthen our resolve to dismantle the criminal networks profiting from our mineral wealth and using it to fund conflict and insecurity,” Alake said.
He added that the mining marshals, who have already commenced nationwide operations, were created to bypass the constitutional hurdles of establishing a new security outfit.
“When I assumed office, I saw the urgent need for a dedicated security architecture for the mining sector. I obtained presidential approval to set up the Mining Marshals under the NSCDC, and they’ve been making arrests and prosecuting offenders.
“This sends a clear message that illegal mining will no longer be tolerated,” the minister added.
The partnership comes amid growing concerns over the link between illegal mining, armed banditry, and terrorism financing in Nigeria’s resource-rich regions. Security experts and development partners have long called for a coordinated approach to addressing the opaque mineral trade, which often fuels insecurity and denies the country billions in revenue.
Alake also revealed that President Bola Tinubu has approved the deployment of satellite-based mine surveillance technology to help security agencies monitor remote mining sites in real-time and swiftly respond to illegal operations.
He said, “The new satellite monitoring system for mines to further curb malpractices and enable the security operatives to identify the location of the incident and mobilise the necessary forces to the site.”
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Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has sentenced the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Naija News reports that Justice had earlier convicted Kanu on all seven counts levelled against him by the Federal Government.
The judge sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment for count 1, 2, 4,5, and 6.
He also sentenced Kanu to 20 years forcount 3 without option of fine.
The Judge sentenced Kanu to five years in prison on count seven without option of fine.
Justice Omotosho ruled that he should not be kept in Kuje prison. He forfeited Nnamdi Kanu’s radio transmitter and barred him from access to social media.
More are still coming
The Federal Government has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to impose the death sentence on the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, following his conviction on all seven terrorism counts.
The request was made on Thursday by the FG’s lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), shortly after Justice James Omotosho found Kanu guilty of all charges preferred against him.
Awomolo, addressing the court after the verdict, argued that the severity of Kanu’s actions merited the maximum penalty under the law.
The senior lawyer insisted that Kanu committed “many illegalities” and should not be treated with leniency.
Awomolo further reminded the court that four of the seven counts on which Kanu was convicted carry the death sentence under Nigeria’s terrorism laws.
He urged Justice Omotosho to take this into account in determining the appropriate punishment.
“It will not be considered justice that he is isolated and punished lightly in a country where we have Boko Haram, ISWAP, Lakurawa, et cetera,” he argued.
According to the prosecution, Kanu’s actions were as destabilising as those of other violent groups and should be treated with equal seriousness.
Awomolo also urged the judge to ensure that Kanu is kept in a secure correctional facility pending the court’s final pronouncement on sentencing.
He stressed the need to prevent any disruptions or security breaches involving the IPOB leader while the sentencing process is underway.
Kanu was earlier found guilty of inciting violence, ordering attacks on security personnel, calling for killings, and issuing threats capable of terrorising the public, all captured in broadcasts tendered as evidence by the prosecution.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has delivered his ruling in the case between the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and the Federal Government.
Naija News reports that the judgement was given in Nnamdi Kanu’s absence after the judge had ordered security operatives to kick him out of the court over his unruly behaviour.
Nnamdi Kanu had earlier stated that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja does not have the jurisdiction to try him.
The separatist, who has been in custody since 2021, faced seven terrorism-related charges bordering on alleged incitement, running an unlawful group, and acts threatening national security.
The IPOB leader contended that the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, under which he is being prosecuted, has been repealed.
He urged the court to strike out the charges, describing them as “disclosing no offence known to law” and therefore invalid.
Kanu also requested that the court nullify the “purported plea of not guilty” entered on his behalf, claiming it was obtained through deception and contrary to a Supreme Court ruling.
He further asked the court to set aside all subsequent proceedings and order his immediate release.
“My contention is very simple: this court lacks jurisdiction to try me,” he said.
Delivering ruling on Thursday, Justice Omotosho ruled that the court has the authority to preside over the Nnamdi Kanu case.
The judge also stated that the matter of extradition has been settled by the Supreme Court, and he ruled against Kanu in this regard.
On the issue of fairness in the hearing for Nnmadi Kanu, Omotosho ruled against the IPOB leader, stating that the court ensured he received a fair hearing.
On the defendant not entering his defence, Justice Omotosho said: “I begged the defendant passionately to enter his defence, but he remained obsolete. That shows that he chose to rest his case on the prosecution. Which is a gamble and a risky action.”
The court found Nnamdi Kanu guilty and convicted him of count 1 in the charges filed against him by the federal government.
The Judge said: “The court will rely on the uncontroverted evidence of the prosecution. This court, therefore, finds that the prosecution has discharged Count 1 beyond reasonable doubt. Consequently, the defendant (Kanu) is hereby convicted in respect of Count 1.”
More judgement is being read and this report will be updated as it comes in…….
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