Boko Haram Sponsors Met Waterloo In UAE

TIn a landmark judgment, half a dozen Nigerians were convicted in Dubai for funding Boko Haram terrorism


In a development that is seen as a significant victory against Boko Haram terrorism, six Nigerians were on November 9 convicted by an Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for funding Boko Haram terrorism in the Northeast. A report by an Abuja-based daily, revealed that the Nigerians were responsible for laundering the sum of $782, 000 between 2015 and 2016 for the funding of the terrorists’ group. According to the report: “Two of the convicts, Surajo Abubakar Muhammad and Saleh Yusuf Adamu were sentenced to life imprisonment; while the remaining four, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, AbdurRahman Ado Musa, Bashir Ali Yusuf, and Muhammad Ibrahim Isa were handed 10-year imprisonment respectively.” “According to the judgment, all the accused were charged with funding a terror group (Boko Haram) by facilitating transfers of money from Dubai to Nigeria for alleged terror operations.” The UAE court noted: “Engaging in such an activity is a crime under Article 29, Clause 3 of UAE’s Federal Law No 7 of 2017 with regards to anti-terrorism law”. It was also revealed that Boko Haram uses undercover agents to facilitate its funding.

“One of them, Alhaji Sa’idu, who is allegedly based in Nigeria is said to be a senior undercover Boko Haram member responsible for facilitating the group’s access to funds from its sponsors” the court revealed. “Also fingered in some of the transactions is one Alhaji Ashiru, said to be a Nigerian government official and a senior undercover Boko Haram member, who facilitated the transfer of misappropriated public funds to the group. Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said the Federal Government was aware of the convictions and has written to the UAE to know more about those involved and to get the details of the judgment.

According to the Minister: “Nigerian government has written firstly, for copies of the proceedings, which will give us the opportunity to see whether justice was done or not. And on whether they have committed the crime, we requested to know who and who are involved, so that the Nigerian government will know what to do next.” The Minister added that the Nigerian government was doing its best but it doesn’t have the exclusive control, as it has to rely on the information provided by UAE. As a result, it is not in control of the speed of response or action on the matter. He added: “We are working on both the issues that they did not receive a fair hearing and that they were alleged to have supported Boko Haram activities”. Reacting to the conviction of the Nigerians, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, not only confirmed that six citizens of the country, have been convicted in the UAE, for wiring $782,000 to the insurgent group but described the development as unfortunate.

Dabiri-Erewa said the convicts could approach the Supreme Court if they wished. Dabiri-Erewa however warned Nigerians around the world, to desist from crime and criminality. But the family members said the Nigerians were into bureau de change business and had been doing their business legitimately both in Nigeria and in the UAE. “Families of those affected told reporters that their relatives were most likely deceived in the course of their routine bureau de change transactions to the extent that some of the transactions they facilitated turned out to be for proceeds meant for Boko Haram activities.”

“It was gathered that one of the Boko Haram couriers, Alhaji Sa’idu, would arrange an unidentified or vaguely identified Arab person on a visit to Dubai from Turkey to hand over an amount of money in US Dollars to one of the convicts who would, in turn, advise his Nigerian-based business partners to hand over the Naira equivalent of the amount to him (Alhaji Sa’idu)”. The family was quoted to have said, “Alhaji Sa’idu is just Nom de guerre who used the gullibility of the victims to achieve his aim. They were into bureau de change business, receiving and sending monies on behalf of others. The family said they tried to seek help from the Nigerian authorities, but nothing was forthcoming.

In April 2019, the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal sentenced Surajo Abubakar Muhammad and Saleh Yusuf Adamu, to life imprisonment followed by deportation, while Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, AbdurRahman Ado Musa, Bashir Ali Yusuf and Muhammad Ibrahim Isa, were each sentenced to 10 years in prison, and also followed by deportation. The court found them guilty of setting up a Boko Haram cell in the UAE to raise funds and material assistance for the insurgents in Nigeria. In December 2019, a UAE Federal Supreme Court also turned down an appeal by the six Nigerians, upholding the ruling of the Appeal Court. Still on funding for the terrorists’ body, it was reported in 2016 that Boko Haram started a form of microfinance by providing or promising capital and loans to young entrepreneurs and business owners in northeast Nigeria, as a ploy to get them to join the group.

According to aid agency, Mercy Corps, Boko Haram was exploiting the poverty facing most small business owners from butchers and beauticians to tailors and traders, to get them to accept the loans in exchange for joining Boko Haram. In a 2015 survey of academic, governmental and journalistic accounts, it was reported that Boko Haram funds its escalating acts of terror through black market dealings, local and international benefactors, and links to al-Qaeda and other well-funded groups in the Middle East, such as ISIS, the most dangerous fundamental group in the world today.

Tracing terrorism funding is a problem globally and also a problem in Nigeria. The reports from the UAE show that terrorist groups work with some government agencies to hide from suspicion. The report also revealed Boko Haram has their money laundered through Bureau de changes. This could lead to tighter currency transfer regulations from the CBN and demands for more transparency into dealings and the sources of funds. For a decade, Boko Haram insurgents have continued to terrorise the north-eastern part of Nigeria. It is still not clear where the insurgents get funding for their activities in the region.