Ali-Keffi was appointed in October 2020 by the late President Muhammadu Buhari to lead the covert Operation Service Wide (OSW) tasked with investigating terrorism financiers and collaborators.
A retired Nigerian Army Major General, Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi, has called for a full probe into the release of 48 terrorism financing suspects, including an individual identified by foreign intelligence agencies as a Boko Haram leader, who were previously held in military custody.
Ali-Keffi was appointed in October 2020 by the late President Muhammadu Buhari to lead the covert Operation Service Wide (OSW) tasked with investigating terrorism financiers and collaborators.
The task force comprised personnel from the military, security and intelligence agencies, as well as legal officers from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
SaharaReporters learnt that OSW collaborated with about 33 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, under the cover of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
In an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters, Ali-Keffi said the National Assembly (NASS) has not taken up the matter due to an alleged compromise.
In a previous interview, Ali-Keffi disclosed that 48 individuals identified as terrorism financiers were arrested, including a person described as a principal Boko Haram leader identified by Western and Middle Eastern intelligence agencies.
“A significant amount of the huge funds meant for counterterrorism were shared amongst prominent military and government officials including NASS members and others,” he said.
“Putting the terrorism financing suspects on trial would have exposed the misappropriation of these counterterrorism funds and all the beneficiaries. That is why nothing has been done.”
The retired general revealed that the NFIU under OSW traced huge sums of money intended for counterterrorism being diverted through some arrested terrorism financing suspects who operated Bureau De Change (BDCs) as fronts.
“These funds were laundered on behalf of top military and government officials,” he added. “We should not forget that these same terrorism financing suspects also moved funds for Boko Haram operations.”
Ali-Keffi asked, “First, who ordered the release of the 48 terror financing suspects, including the individual identified by Western and Middle Eastern intelligence agencies as the leader of Boko Haram, held in military (Nigerian Army) custody? All those who played a part should be identified.”
“Secondly, why were they released without being put on trial?” he also asked.
Ali-Keffi questioned why these suspects were released without trial, particularly Hima Abubakar, whose $600 million account was traced by the NFIU to an overseas offshore account.
“Thirdly, why did the government request the US to unfreeze the $600m of Hima Abubakar that was traced by the NFIU to an overseas offshore account?” he asked.
“It should be noted that Hima had been declared wanted by the (Nigerian) government and even the Nigerien government for terrorism financing.
“Also, it should be recalled that at the beginning of the Buhari administration, an arms probe, Committee on Defence and Arms Procurement (CADEP) was set up and it indicted Hima Abubakar for several misdemeanours relating to arms/ equipment procurement.”
“So, why did we request the US to unfreeze his account after the CADEP had found him liable (of owing the country a huge amount of money, well over $600m)?” he further asked.
He also raised concerns over the release of Alhaji Saidu Ahmed, also known as Saidu Gold, identified as a top Boko Haram leader.
“It is laughable that Alhaji Saidu Ahmed alias Saidu Gold who was identified as a top leader of Boko Haram was released from Army detention and allowed to walk free despite the abundance of evidence that the OSW had,” he said.
“Let us recall that the UAE intelligence, as stated in the Dubai Judgment Papers, had shown that Saidu Gold recruited all the six individuals jailed in Dubai, some for life. Yet, for some insane reasons, we didn’t even put him on trial. Again, to me, it showed that some persons at the highest decision-making level decided that the suspects should be released so as to cover their tracks.”
“There are many questions begging for answers,” he added.
Suspicious Circumstances Around Audit Suppression
The retired general also recalled that the late Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, before his death in a suspicious air crash, had set up a forensic audit of counterterrorism funds and other military procurement monies that were never procured.
“He died three days before he was to act on the report,” Ali-Keffi said, adding that the suppression of this audit was part of a wider pattern to conceal the diversion of funds.
Ali-Keffi called for a thorough investigation into the handling of terrorism financing suspects and the funds meant for counterterrorism.
“If the NFIU under OSW should ever make its investigations public, I can assure you there will be a tsunami in Nigeria. Many military and government officials, including distinguished NASS members, would be implicated,” he said.