EFCC Vows To Probe Lawmaker Over Alleged Terrorism Financing

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it will look into the allegations of terrorism financing and banditry in Zamfara leveled against the member representing Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency of the state in the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Sani-Jaji.

The EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, stated this when the Nigerian Patriotic Youth Against Corruption (NPYAC) stormed the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday to submit a petition demanding Sani-Jaji’s investigation.

Oyewale assured the protesters that he would submit their petition to the Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede and they will hear from the Commission in a couple of days.

“…in the couple of days you are going to hear from us concerning this. I am going to hand it over to the Chairman and the Commission entirely will do the needful.

“So once again, I want to appreciate all of us for this protest and I want to also appeal to us that as we are leading a protest like this, let us us deploy our energies towards the fight against corruption so that all of us together, we will fight the monster together.

“We appreciate the fact that when you see something, you say something. So you have seen something now and you have say something. We are going to do something,” he said.

Speaking while submitting the petition, the NPYAC Spokesperson, Comrade Felix Great said recent concerns have surfaced regarding the alleged involvement of Hon. Jaji, a prominent figure in Zamfara State, in funding terrorism activities through alliances with bandits, with a political goal in mind.

He said, NPYAC is deeply troubled by these allegations and considered it crucial to address the matter with utmost urgency and viewed such actions as a grave threat to the security and well-being of the Zamfara State, the nation and its citizens.

Great also informed the EFCC of an organisation christened “Baba For All,” purportedly founded and financed by the lawmaker which he alleged to operate as a conduit for money laundering and the bankrolling nefarious gang activities, betraying its ostensible philanthropic objectives.

“We humbly approach the EFCC with a passionate appeal regarding this matter of paramount national significance and exigency that has profoundly unsettled our organisation and the citizens of Nigeria.

“We have been appraised of credible intelligence, substantiated by corroborated sources, which implicates Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji to be sympathetic to some armed bandits in Zamfara State and in some instances, he has the penchant to dole out money to them to advance and facilitate his political standing in the state.

“Diverse accounts relayed through our network attest to the frequent rendezvous between Hon. Jaji’s Gusau residence and notorious bandit leaders and their cohorts of banditry sympathisers. These meetings, affirmed by reliable testimonies, allege the illicit transfer of significant monetary sums, both in Nigerian Naira and Foreign Currencies, from Hon. Jaji to these bandits and their sympathisers.

“Alarming allegations have further emerged, particularly within Zamfara State, implicating Hon. Jaji in collusive associations with Bureau de Change operators complicit in the pernicious enterprise of terrorism financing.

“We are compelled to draw attention of the EFCC to be cognizant of the fact that Honourable Aminu Sani Jaji presided as Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Safety and National Intelligence during a period marked by extensive discussions on “missing millions of dollars.

“Our organisation raises this matter, which has surreptitiously evaded comprehensive scrutiny, and calls for its transparent investigation, with a commitment to utmost transparency and accountability to the Nigerian people.

‘It is our firm belief that Hon. Jaji’s tenure as Chairman of the Public Safety and National Intelligence Committee was marred by insidious dealings, suspicious financial discrepancies, and the suppression of grave corruption allegations,” he added.