The Federal Government on Saturday unveiled a list of 48 individuals and groups accused of financing terrorism in Nigeria, in a move coming just hours after the conclusion of a major terrorism trial that secured hundreds of convictions.
The list, released by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NIGSAC), followed the ninth phase of the Federal Government’s mass trial of over 500 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect. The proceedings, held over four days at the Federal High Court in Abuja, saw 10 judges preside over cases that resulted in 386 convictions.
Leading the prosecution team was the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), alongside the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN). Many of the defendants were represented by lawyers from the National Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.
The courts handed down varying sentences, including life imprisonment, and also recommended rehabilitation and deradicalisation programmes for the convicts.
Expressing satisfaction with the outcome, the Attorney General said the convictions send a strong warning to those involved in terrorism and its financing.
“There is no space for them here in Nigeria. While we cannot control where they go elsewhere, Nigeria will not accommodate them. We have brought them to justice, and that is the message,” he said.
Shortly after the trials, NIGSAC published the names of those allegedly linked to funding terrorist activities across the country. Among those listed were already proscribed organisations such as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ansaru, and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Also named is Simon Ekpa, a separatist figure convicted by a Finnish court in September 2025 for terrorism-related offences and sentenced to six years imprisonment. He was found guilty of supporting armed separatist activities in Nigeria’s South-East and promoting violence through online platforms.
Another prominent figure on the list is Tukur Mamu, an alleged negotiator in the Abuja-Kaduna train kidnapping case. He is expected to open his defence on April 23 in response to a 10-count terrorism charge filed by the Federal Government.
Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja fixed the date after the prosecution closed its case, having called six witnesses.
Mamu, who was arraigned in March 2023, is accused of facilitating terrorist operations and collecting ransom payments on behalf of Boko Haram.
Prosecutors alleged that he received a total of $420,000 and N21 million from families of kidnapped victims, in addition to other ransom payments.
The government further claimed that he maintained communication with a Boko Haram spokesperson and concealed proceeds linked to terrorist activities at his Kaduna residence.
He was arrested in September 2022 at Cairo International Airport while en route to Saudi Arabia and was later returned to Nigeria, where he has remained in custody.
According to the Department of State Services (DSS), Mamu allegedly used his position as a publisher to aid terrorist activities and was intercepted while attempting to attend a secret meeting with terrorist commanders abroad.
The Federal Government said investigations are ongoing and indicated that extradition processes may soon be initiated to bring suspects currently outside Nigeria back to face trial.
The list released by NIGSAC also includes dozens of other individuals and entities accused of supporting terrorism financing networks across the country, as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle such operations.
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