Why Buhari shields sponsors of terrorists in Nigeria – Presidency

The Nigerian presidency has revealed the reason why President Muhammadu Buhari covertly shields or is unwilling to disclose the identities of sponsors of terrorism in the country even the United Arab Emirate (UAE) had released list of terrorism sponsors in Nigeria.

The Nigerian government under the leadership of President Buhari, according to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, is not interested in naming and shaming sponsors of terrorism. However, the same government has delight in doing same to those the government identified as corrupt politicians in the country, mainly members of the opposition party.

Adesina had in a media interaction on Monday, disclsoed  that while the government would not expose the sponsors of terrorism, the government would prosecute the financiers of terrorists in the court of law. He emphasized that the UAE had sent a list of terrorism financiers, adding that the Attorney-General of the Federal and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is working on the information and would prosecute the sponsors in court.

“Naming and shaming will not be the motive, bringing malefactors to justice will be it. “Nigeria is not interested in naming and shaming anybody. “Rather, it wants to bring them to justice.

“You will see that the United Arab Emirates has given some names and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) has reacted to that matter, saying that in due course, all these people will have their dates in court. Rest assured that these people will be dragged before justice and justice will have its way,” Adesina had said.

The S.A. added that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and other security agencies are investigating the reports to get verifiable evidence against the suspects before they are arraigned in court. He maintained that the government would conduct thorough investigations before the suspects are prosecuted.

According to Adesina: “Investigations are going on at different levels; it will be at the level of the EFCC, it will be at the level of the NIA. All the security agencies will be working on it so that when those people eventually appear in court, there will be a prima facie case against them.

“You don’t first call people before the court and start looking for evidence against them later. No! The cases will be tied up before they appear in court.”

The federal government had four months ago revealed it has commenced scrutinizing the report for the prosecution of the persons linked to financing of terrorism in the country.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, had on May 7, said investigations of the suspects provided sufficient evidence of indictment of some highly placed individuals, businessmen, and institutions in the country on terrorism financing in the northeast Nigeria.