The Nigeria sanctions committee (NSC) has identified Simon Ekpa, the infamous Biafra agitator, and 16 entities as accused terrorist funders in the nation.
After a meeting on Thursday in Abuja, the committee made the announcement.
The committee is the national entity in charge of carrying out the targeted financial sanctions resolutions of the UN Security Council (UNSCR).
It is anticipated that the committee, led by Justice Minister and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi, would track down and halt the funding of terrorist groups.
The committee revealed the names of 17 people and organisations that would be on the Nigeria sanctions list, along with their bank account information, in a statement issued following the meeting.
The committee said all financial institutions are required to “immediately identify and freeze, without prior notice, all funds, assets, and any other economic resources belonging to the designated persons and entities in your possession and report the same to the secretariat.”
“Report to the Secretariat of the Nigeria Sanctions Committee any assets frozen or actions taken in compliance with the designation, including attempted transactions,” part of the directive to financial institutions reads.
“Immediately file a suspicious transactions report to the NFIU for further analysis on the financial activities of such an individual or entity.
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“Report as a suspicious transactions report to the NFIU all cases of name matching in financial transactions prior to or after receipt of the Nigerian Sanctions List.”
One of the popular individuals named in the list is Ekpa, a self-proclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In November 2024, Ekpa was arrested in Finland over alleged “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media.” He is currently in prison pending the commencement of his trial in May 2025.
