An exclusive investigation by SaharaReporters has identified a network of 20 Nigerian and three international individuals alleged to have helped finance and facilitate terrorism, with financial links in Nigeria and abroad, including references in UAE court judgments.
According to SaharaReporters, the inquiry traced personal data, bank records and transaction histories that connect the suspects to convicted individuals involved in terrorism, notably activities linked to Boko Haram. The report says the Nigerian suspects were arrested in 2021 but later released under circumstances described as questionable.
Key allegations and findings (reported by SaharaReporters)
• Large volumes and patterns of transactions: The investigation documents numerous Bank Verification Number (BVN)-linked accounts across multiple banks. Recorded inflows and outflows for several individuals run into billions of naira, with frequent large cash withdrawals and transfers to convicted persons and known associates.
• Links to convicted individuals and UAE court judgments: SaharaReporters reports that several suspects are named in UAE court rulings as facilitators of terrorist financing and that monies were routed through domestic and offshore accounts, including transfers to entities such as Leaf Tobacco & Commodities.
• Cross-border connections: Three international figures — Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa (deceased April 2024), his son Paul Nkwaya, and Aboubacar Hima — are alleged to have received and forwarded funds connected to the network, including transfers to South Africa and from the UAE.
Named Nigerian suspects (summary of allegations)
1. Alhaji Saidu Ahmed (aka Alh Saidu/Alhaji Saidu Gold) — Zaria-based businessman; SaharaReporters says his accounts show inflows of about N4.8 billion and direct links to convicted individuals cited in UAE court records.
2. Usaini Adamu (aka Baba Hussaini/Hussaini Adamu) — Kano businessman; alleged guarantor for convicts’ accounts with BVN-linked activity reported across nine banks (reported inflows/outflows in the tens of billions of naira).
3. Muhammad Sani Adam — Forex and precious stones trader; reportedly operates in Kano and Yola with dozens of BVN-linked accounts and transfers totaling about N54 billion.
4. Abubakar Adamu Yellow (aka Yellow Amfani) — Kano businessman; alleged transfers in the tens of millions to convicts and cumulative inflows/outflows cited at N61.4 billion and N51.7 billion respectively.
5. Murtala Abdullahi Jega — BDC operator; reported to have received N60 million from a convict and to have transferred funds to Leaf Tobacco & Commodities.
6. Sadiq Garba Abubakar — Trader in Kano and Abuja; said to have transferred more than N1.65 billion to a convicted associate between 2015 and 2017.
7. Hussaini Adamu — Kano businessman; alleged to have moved billions among members of the network.
8. Mustapha Ibrahim Yakubu — Businessman between Wuse and Kano; reportedly transferred N2 billion to Bahafs Global and N345 million to another suspect, tying him to alleged arms and logistics activities.
9. Ali Abdullahi Yusuf — Kano businessman; brother to two convicted individuals and party to extensive account activity across multiple banks.
10. Nasiru Shuaibu — Operates between Gusau and Minna; alleged inflows include a N5.4 billion transfer from Muhammad Sani.
11. Yusuf Ghazali — Forex trader; reported to maintain hundreds of accounts and named in UAE judgments as a facilitator of transfers from Dubai.
Additional alleged financiers and facilitators
12. Mansur Muhammad Usman — Textile dealer accused in UAE judgments of acting as a money transfer agent for Boko Haram.
13. Yazid Usman Muhammad — Kano businessman linked to transfers from Mansur Usman Muhammad.
14. Alhaji Musa Emma — Maiduguri operator whose accounts reportedly show cash withdrawals in excess of N2.4 billion.
15. Modu Sulum — Maiduguri-based with financial links to other suspects.
16. Adamu Aliyu Kanoma — Jewellery dealer in Gusau; alleged cumulative cash withdrawals over N10 billion between 2016 and 2020.
17. Habibu Muhammad Usama — Gusau businessman with reported large cash withdrawals and transfers from convicts.
18. Nurudeen Gani Aliyu (aka Alhaji Nura) — Sokoto BDC operator; said to operate hundreds of BVN-linked accounts and to have sent funds to Leaf Tobacco & Commodities.
19. Ladan Ibrahim — Public servant and chairman of the Sokoto Pilgrims Welfare Agency; alleged transfers to Alhaji Nura Gani Aliyu and affiliates.
20. (Sadiq Garba Abubakar is also listed among central financiers in the report.)
International figures named
• Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa — Late Rwandan businessman and tobacco dealer with residences in Nigeria and South Africa; SaharaReporters reports inflows of about N67 billion and outflows of N34 billion across numerous accounts and alleged facilitation of offshore transfers.
• Paul Nkwaya — Son of the late Ayabatwa and co-owner of Leaf Tobacco & Commodities; alleged to have shared BVN-linked accounts and to be involved in cross-border transfers.
• Aboubacar Hima (aka Petit) — Identified by investigating Nigerian authorities as an arms dealer operating in Abuja; SaharaReporters reports his accounts show transfers exceeding $1.19 million from the UAE to associates of convicted individuals and that he is under investigation for criminal conspiracy, money laundering and fraud.
What SaharaReporters says and next steps
SaharaReporters characterizes the financial trails, cross-border transfers and repeated court mentions as evidence of a coordinated effort to fund and support terrorist operations and says the findings warrant further monitoring and prosecution by law enforcement.
The newspaper has reached out to relevant banking authorities and security agencies for comment. Those named in SaharaReporters’ report are described there as suspects and persons under investigation. No criminal convictions arising from the allegations summarized here have been cited in SaharaReporters’ public report for all individuals listed.
Credit
This article is based on an exclusive investigation by SaharaReporters.
Note: Individuals named in investigative reports retain the right to respond
