Buhari regime will not name, shame Boko Haram financiers: Femi Adesina

President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime will not name and shame Boko Haram financiers and other sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria, says his media aide Femi Adesina.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime will not name and shame Boko Haram financiers and other sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria, says his media aide Femi Adesina.

“Naming and shaming will not be the motive. Bringing malefactors to justice will be it,” Mr Adesina told Channels TV on Monday. “Nigeria is not interested in naming and shaming anybody. Rather, it wants to bring them to justice.”

In May, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, announced that high-profile Nigerians were financing terrorism in the country.

“In essence, it is indeed true that the government is prosecuting, and it’s indeed initiating processes of prosecuting those high-profile individuals that are found to be financing terrorism. It is indeed true,” Mr Malami had said.

Contrary to many Nigerians’ expectations, Mr Buhari’s regime failed to reveal the identities of the terrorism financiers.

But Mr Adesina stated that “rest assured that these people will be dragged before justice, and justice will have its way.”

He added that investigations were ongoing at various security agencies before arraigning the suspects.

“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,” the presidential spokesman stated. “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.”

Last week, EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, said he could not reveal the identities of Boko Haram sponsors.

Asked to name the financiers during an interview with Channels TV, Mr Bawa said, “If you are my adviser will you advise me to come on national television to tell the whole world regarding matters of sensitive national security issue? Certainly, not.”

Kunle Olawunmi, a former navy commodore, in August, alleged that the Buhari regime was familiar with sponsors of terrorism but yet to bring them to book.

“The government has developed cold feet in fighting the insurgency because some of those backing Boko Haram are now top-ranking government officials,” the military intelligence expert had said. “Why can’t this government, if not that they are partisan, bring those people out for trial?”

(GAZETTE)

UNGA: China, Russia, other nations pay tribute at 9/11 museum

UN nations have paid tribute at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

UN nations have paid tribute at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks launched against the U.S. that changed the course of history.

UN Counter-Terrorism chief, Vladimir Voronkov, in his message to commemorate the anniversary on Monday, said the UN would continue to stand in solidarity with all victims of terrorism.

Speaking at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in downtown Manhattan where the twin towers once stood, Voronkov highlighted the significance of the commemoration.

“We have gathered from all over the world on this sacred ground in the host city of the United Nations to pay tribute to the victims and survivors of the terrible attacks that occurred here just over 20 years ago,” he said.

The special ceremony brought together heads of state, ministers and delegates representing more than 120 member states and international organisations in New York for the opening of the 76th UN General Assembly.

Mr Voronkov stated that the UN was committed to continue placing victims at the heart of the global counter-terrorism effort, speaking for those who can no longer speak, and amplifying survivors’ voices.

“We will continue to stand in solidarity with all victims of terrorism. They will not be forgotten. No day shall erase them from the memory of time,” he added.

The commemoration demonstrated the UN commitment never to forget the 2,977 people from over 90 countries whose lives were taken when hijacked airliners brought terror to New York, Washington and beyond, and the thousands more that were injured or sickened.

Alice Greenwald, President and CEO of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, said, “Your presence here is a powerful demonstration of global solidarity with the victims of 9/11 and their families, indeed with all victims of terrorism. You recognise that the human impacts of terrorism and extreme violence are universal and collectively acknowledging the absolute illegitimacy of terrorism as a response to political grievance.”

Expressing sympathy and solidarity with grieving families, José Albares, Spain’s foreign affairs minister for the European Union and Cooperation, restated their commitment to fighting terrorism.

The ceremony included a minute of silence, following which Messrs Voronkov and Albares laid wreaths in memory of victims of the September 11 attacks and all victims of terrorism worldwide.

(NAN)/(Gazette)

Northern Governors Forum mourns Ex-CBN Executive, Obadiah Mailafiya

Northern Governors Forum mourns Ex-CBN Executive, Obadiah Mailafiya

Northern Governors Forum says the death of former CBN Deputy Governor, Dr Obadiah Mailafiya, is a great loss to the nation.

Chairman of the Forum and governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong, said in a statement issued in Jos on Monday by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham that Mailafiya’s death was saddening.

Lalong said the death of Mailafiya was a loss not only to his family and the people of Kaduna State, but also a loss to the nation because of his enormous contributions to socio-economic pursuits of Nigeria.

He said the deceased was a consummate financial expert and vibrant intellectual whose local and international reputation was highly acknowledged.

The governor observed that Mailafiya’s intellect was sought and deployed for the benefit of governments and the private sectors around the world.

The chairman commiserated with the family of the deceased and urged them to take solace in his legacies, saying he showed passion for development, emancipation, truth, justice and equity in all his interventions on various platforms.

He noted that his vision for a better Nigeria and the uplifting of the downtrodden motivated him to contest for the Office of the President in 2019.

Gov. Lalong condoled with Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, the government and people of Kaduna State over the loss of Mailafiya and prayed for his soul to rest in peace.

(NAN)