Defence Chief Urges EFCC to Track Terrorism Funding

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to track terrorism funding in the country.

This, he said, was one of the means to curb terrorism globally.

The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa in a report titled “Terrorist Financing in West Africa” stated that terrorists and terrorist organisations use both legitimate and illegitimate means to raise funds, and formal and informal channels to move cash around.

The organisation stated that law enforcement and regulatory agencies, security and intelligence services, and the judiciary lack the requisite capacity to effectively address the challenge of terrorism and terrorism financing.

The CDS, however, urged the EFCC to help in tracing funds related to terrorism.

A statement on Friday by the Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, said that the CDS spoke when the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, visited him in Abuja

Musa also described the legal system of the country as “soft”, lamenting that the system is delaying the prosecution of suspects.

According to him, the delay experienced in the prosecution of suspects had become one of the major challenges for the military.

The statement partly read, “The CDS called for the tracking of terrorism funding in Nigeria, being one of the non-kinetic means of fighting terrorism across the globe.

“The CDS further informed the Chairman of the Anti-Graft body that AFN synergises with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and other stakeholders to fight oil theft in the country.

The CDS also called for the installation of Closed-Circuit Television Cameras at strategic locations, adding that it would help in the fight against crime in the country.