A kingpin of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa Njoku, and 14 others have been designated as terrorism financiers.
The designation was revealed in a statement released on Thursday by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC) headed by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
The 15 individuals and two entities were designated for their alleged involvement in supporting terrorist activities.
The designations are part of Nigeria’s efforts to comply with international standards on combating terrorism financing, as outlined in the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The NSC has directed financial institutions to freeze assets and report any transactions related to these individuals and entities to the Sanctions Committee and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
The designated individuals and entities are : Simon Ekpa Njoku – Born 21 March 1985, with accounts in Guaranty Trust Bank; Godstime Promise Iyare – Born 20 May 1996, with accounts in Access Bank, UBA, and Moniepoint; Francis Chukwuedo Mmaduabuchi – Born 27 September 1987, with accounts in Ecobank and Fidelity; John Anayo Onwumere – Born 5 March 1987, with accounts in Sterling and Zenith; Chikwuka Godwin Eze – Born 5 May 1975, with accounts in First Bank and Access Bank; Edwin Augustine Chukwuedo – Born 27 May 1983, with accounts in Union and Ecobank; Chinwendu Joy Owoh – Born 10 February 1982, with accounts in First Bank and GTB; Ginika Jane Orji – Born 5 October 1995, with accounts in Blueridge and Opay; Awo Uchechukwu – Born 11 December 1978, with an account in First Bank; Mercy Ebere Ifeoma Ali – Born 7 July 1998, with accounts in Access and FCMB; Ohagwu Nneka Juliana – Born 15 August 1985, with an account in UBA; Eze Chibuike Okpoto – Born 12 January 1989, with accounts in Access and FCMB; Nwaobi Henry Chimezie – Born 12 June 1991, with accounts in Access and UBA; Ogomu Peace Kewe – Born 27 June 1997, with accounts in Access and Zenith; Igwe Ka Ala Enterprises – With accounts in Access Bank and GTB; Seficuvi Global Company – With accounts in Access Bank and Ecobank; and Lakurawa Group.
The NSC gave details of the designations, saying: “Simon Ekpa Njoku: Known for his role in facilitating about 49 fundraisers across different countries between October 2023 and September 2024, Ekpa allegedly used social media platforms to orchestrate attacks on government facilities, particularly military and paramilitary formations in Nigeria’s southeast. These actions resulted in significant loss of life and property damage.
“Godstime Promise Iyare: Linked to local fundraising activities for IPOB, Iyare was identified through an account at United Bank for Africa used to collect funds from members in Nigeria. His mobile phone number was associated with multiple National Identity Numbers, raising concerns about identity manipulation.”
Freezing measures should be extended to all accounts associated with the designated subjects, the committee said.
“For designated entities, this should include accounts linked to their signatories and directors to ensure comprehensive enforcement of the sanctions regime,” the statement said.
