The Federal Government has officially designated Simon Ekpa and 15 other individuals as terrorism financiers. The government also declared the Lakurawa Sect as a terrorist organization and a terrorism financier.

These actions were taken following their alleged involvement in funding and supporting terrorist activities.

The announcement came on Thursday, March 6, 2025, after the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC), an independent body led by the Attorney General, recommended the designation. The Chairman of the NSC subsequently directed the inclusion of Simon Ekpa Njoku and others on the Nigeria Sanctions List.

According to the government, the decision was made in line with Section 54 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Under this provision, all financial institutions and certain businesses are now required to immediately freeze, without prior notice, all funds and assets linked to the designated individuals and entities. They must also report any such frozen assets to the Secretariat of the Nigeria Sanctions Committee.

Additionally, any financial transactions involving these individuals must be flagged and reported to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). The law mandates strict compliance, warning that failure to adhere to these measures could result in both criminal and civil penalties, as well as reputational risks for financial institutions and businesses.

Simon Ekpa Njoku, who was identified as a key financier of terrorism, was born on March 21, 1985. He reportedly facilitated at least 49 fundraisers in different countries between October 2023 and September 2024. Authorities claim that through his social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), he ordered attacks on government buildings, military bases, and paramilitary posts across southeastern Nigeria. These attacks reportedly resulted in significant loss of life, including security personnel and civilians, as well as widespread destruction of government and public property.

Ekpa’s address was listed as Kauppakatu 6 B, Zip: 15140, Lahti, Finland, with international passport number FP2927082. His known contact numbers include +35803555858 and 08063892983.

The government also designated several other individuals as terrorism financiers, based on intelligence reports linking them to the funding of terrorist groups.

Godstime Promise Iyare, born on May 20, 1996, was identified as a key figure in local fundraising activities supporting terrorism. Authorities traced his involvement through a United Bank for Africa (UBA) account, 2212655102, which was allegedly used to collect funds from supporters in Nigeria. Security agencies also discovered that his mobile phone number was linked to the National Identity Numbers (NIN) of two other individuals—Chukwuekwu Iyare and Helen Ugbomor Lovelyn Iyare.

Francis Chukwuedo Mmadubuchi, born on September 27, 1987, was also listed. Investigators reported that his Moniepoint account, 8196060258, received donations from members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

John Anayo Onwumere, born on March 5, 1987, was identified for using a Sterling Bank account, 0026224269, to receive funds from IPOB supporters. Similarly, Chikwuka Godwin Eze, born on May 5, 1975, was named for operating an Access Bank account, 0108595489, that allegedly served as a collection point for contributions from members of a group identified as Odumegu State Defacto and Urhobo Isoko State Defacto.

Another person listed was Edwin Augustine Chukwuedo, born on May 27, 1983, whose Flutterwave account, 9461730261, was allegedly used to channel funds for terrorist activities. Chiwendu Joy Owoh, born on February 10, 1982, was accused of helping to organize financial contributions within Nigeria through a Moniepoint account, 6474876289.

Ginika Jane Orji, born on October 5, 1995, was also placed on the sanctions list. Her Opay account, 8039231985, was reportedly used to collect funds from IPOB members in local chapters across Nigeria.

Awo Uchechukwu, born on December 11, 1978, was declared a terrorist financier and identified as a commander of the Eastern Security Network (ESN). Authorities allege that he received direct funding from Simon Ekpa to finance the group’s activities. His First Bank account, 3060144916, was cited as a major financial channel.

Other individuals listed include Mercy Ebere Ifeoma Ali, Ohagwu Nneka Juliana, Eze Chibuike Okpoto, and Nwaobi Henry. Intelligence reports linked their bank accounts in Access Bank, UBA, and other financial institutions to transactions supporting terrorist organizations.

The Nigerian government clarified that the asset-freezing mechanism is a preventive tool designed to disrupt terrorist activities by cutting off financial support. Financial institutions and businesses have been warned that failure to comply with these sanctions could lead to legal consequences.

Authorities have instructed banks and other financial service providers to identify and freeze all assets owned, controlled, or associated with the designated individuals and groups. This includes funds in accounts owned jointly or indirectly by them, as well as those managed on their behalf by third parties.

Additionally, businesses and institutions must continue to monitor transactions for any links to the sanctioned individuals and report any findings to the Nigeria Sanctions Committee at [email protected].

The Nigerian government has reiterated its commitment to fighting terrorism and has vowed to take strict action against individuals or entities found supporting terrorist groups through financial means.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has described the invasion of Ikeja Electric Distribution Company’s head office at Alausa by its armed operatives as unfortunate, promising to investigate and bring those responsible for the rage to justice.

Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Logistics Command, AVM Adeniran Ademuwagun gave the assurance when he visited the DISCO’s premises after the incident to broker peace.

The briefing followed hours of meeting with top management of IKEDC and NAF delegation led by the AOC.

AVM Ademuwagun said: “What happened this morning was quite unfortunate, and certainly it will not happen again. As you heard from the chairman, electricity in the base environment is not a luxury, it is an essential commodity.”

Armed soldiers numbering over 60 on Thursday morning invaded the DISCOs’ headquarters, disrupting business activities, injuring more than 10 staffers and damaging properties.

Eyewitnesses recounted how the soldiers, angered by the disconnection of their light for more than 10 days stormed the business premises located not far from the Government House, allegedly pointing their cocked guns at civilians while ordering them to lay down with their faces to the ground.

They were alleged to have used planks and metal objects to assault some of the workers.

Over 200 workers present in the building received slaps, fist blows and other physical assaults from the soldiers.

The soldiers, who held the premises hostage for over two hours, were said to have also grounded vehicular movement in that part of the road as armed soldiers were stationed on the expressway to prevent access to and from that part of the expressway.

During the briefing, IKEDC Chairman Kola Adesina, confirmed there were skirmishes at the premises which left at least 10 staffers brutalized, offices vandalized and assets carted away.

Notwithstanding the incident, Adesina said as a leader, he has the responsibility to de-escalate the situation, adding that immediate steps were taken to engage with the leadership of the Air Force, and they responded.

“Not only did they respond, eventually they left the premises with some of our people as well as some vehicles, but those vehicles were returned.

“Then we had to pay visits to the Air Force base, and we were not only kept abreast with the sad situation at the base itself in terms of the criticality of the infrastructure, as well as the fact that there are morgues out there, and a large number of other critical infrastructure that didn’t have electricity.

“We were told all these. We were shown evidence of why it is important we have a facility that’s strategically, appropriately electrified.

“Unfortunately, on our own side of the business, we’re being owed a significant chunk of money, about $4 billion plus, for which we’ve not been able to receive revenue.

“We’ve been discussing this for some time now, about seven years that we’ve been at it, but somehow the money wasn’t coming through.

“Sadly, because of the fact that we have a system whereby, as a distribution company, the responsibility of collection lies primarily with us, and remission of that money into a common account, which is excess crude, of course, with that responsibility of it being upstream.

“The gas suppliers, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and other critical market participants. Of course, that has led to liabilities in our books that we’ve been carrying in our balance sheet, and it has made us quite a bankrupt organisation, so to speak.

“Somehow, we’ve been riding the wave, but it’s been very difficult and challenging, and if we cannot collect, how do we pay our staff? How do we incentivise them to be able to do what they are paid to do?

“So this unfortunate situation arose, and of course, we woke up to this sad event.

“This is a traumatic day in the life of our organisation, because as an organisation, one of the things we pride ourselves for is the safety of our people first, safety of our assets, and ensuring that we give electricity to our customers alike. But somehow, that has been impaired today,” said Adesina.

He revealed that the Federal Government has promised to ensure the money being owed the DISCO would be paid speedily, just as he acknowledged the enormous sacrifices military personnel make for the safety and security of all Nigerians.

The chairman estimated the losses incurred by the invasion to a billion naira, noting that operations were disrupted and they had to evacuate the building as the workers were not in good state of mind.

“But when we engaged with the Air Force, we met a leadership that was quite unusual in their ability to not only listen, but to equally assess the entire situation end-to-end, and the kind of conversation that has taken place today is quite far-reaching and ennobling.

“So the leadership not only accepted that certain things ought not to have happened, it decided to visit us to assess the state of affairs, and that’s why we have the entire leadership of the Air Force Base in Lagos here with us today.

“We’ve gone around the offices, and he has even had the privilege of addressing some of our staff that were injured in the course of the rage that we saw today.

“So one would want to say that we say thank you, at least, for the response of the leadership, and thank you for the emotional intelligence and empathy that has been shown today in terms of the conversations we’ve had.

“We’ve been discussing that for about five hours, and calls have come from Abuja and everybody concerned.”

A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday heard that former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello was not involved in the operation of the state’s Government House’s bank account domiciled at a commercial bank.

A Compliant Officer with the bank, Mrs. Abimbola Williams, stated this while testifying as the second prosecution witness in the alleged N80.2 billion money laundering trial of the ex-CBN governor.

Mrs. Williams, who was cross-examined by Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), said the forme governor’s name did not feature in all the withdrawals made from the account 1003889575 domiciled in the Lokoja, Kogi State capital, branch of the bank while the defendant was in office.

She added that Bello’s name also did not reflect in the account opening documents and the statements of account, which were later tended in court.

The witness said as a Compliance Officer, her duties include protecting the integrity of the bank from legal penalty, reputational damage and financial losses.

Mrs. Williams identified the three signatories to the account, including that of Alhaji Yakubu Ismail, said to be a permanent secretary.

The witness said she was not the Accounts Officer in charge of the Kogi Government House’s account and that the account is domiciled in Lokoja and not in Area 3 of Abuja, where she works.

Led in evidence by the prosecuting lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), Mrs. Williams identified series of withdrawals from the account through cheques.

The witness named Abdulsalami Hudu as the person handling fund withdrawals on behalf of the Kogi Government House.

She recalled that on December 12, 2018, 10 transactions were carried out on the account with N10 million withdraw in each transaction.

Mrs. Williams said the 10 transactions had the same narration – cheque withdrawal in favour of Abdulsalam Hudu.

Still reading from the account statement, the witness said it was evident in the statement that withdrawals from the account went mainly to two beneficiary – Abdul Salam Hudu and Aminu J. O.

According to her, the withdrawals were done by cheques and in tranches, with each maximum withdrawal pegged at N10 million.

Mrs. Williams explained that the cheques were presented across the counter and that the money was paid in cash or deposited into a beneficiary’s account.

The witness averred that it was not specific if the withdrawals were in cash.

The third prosecution witness, Nicholas Ohehomon, who described himself as an Internal Auditor in the American International School, said Bello had an agreement with the school to pay upfront the school fees of his five children for all the years they were to spend in the school.

Ohehomon added that there was also an arrangement for the payment of the fees of “future children”.

The prosecution tendered through Ohehomon some documents on Bello’s children’s studentship in the school, including admission letters and the receipts of the fees paid by the defendant.

The witness, who also tendered the school’s statements of account, announced the different classes the children were admitted into.

A copy of the contractual agreement between the defendant and the school for upfront payment of school fees for his children was also tendered.

The trial continues today.