The NFIU, made the revelation in a document titled ‘Counter Terrorism Financing Newsletter’ and dated February 26, 2024.
The NFIU said the US and the UK house the largest numbers of these IPOB cells per country, with seven and six operating IPOB cells respectively in both countries.
In 2017, the Federal Government proscribed IPOB and labeled it a terrorist organization, with its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, facing terrorism charges.
The NFIU has linked the operations of IPOB to 54 individuals worldwide.
The document read; “The NFIU confirmed that the diaspora affiliates of the IPOB group have spread over 22 countries across the globe. Further analysis exposed 27 entities across the globe registered in the name of the group, the US and the UK had the highest number of registrations, having seven and six registered entities, respectively.
“The analysis further indicates that the group has several bank accounts in different countries where funds are being received from various contributors with the narrations ‘Monthly Dues, Services and for ESN’, among others, then later disbursed for various operations.
“It was confirmed that one of the major sources of revenue for the group is crowdfunding by several individuals abroad, mostly Nigerians.
“It was observed that over $160,000 was disbursed to Transmission, Media, and Broadcasting companies in Bulgaria, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. The analysis profiled the leader of the group, his addresses, and mobile numbers abroad with other 53 individuals associated with the dissident group. The report was forwarded to Law Enforcement for further investigation.”
The NFIU also disclosed that a betting platform, known as ‘XC’, submitted a Suspicious Transaction Report regarding a 24-year-old Nigerian customer from North-Central Nigeria.
The NFIU reported that a 24-year-old from Nigeria’s North-Central region had received over N350,000 in his betting wallet, suspected to be ransom money from a kidnapping.
Additionally, the financial intelligence unit uncovered a terrorist attempting to avoid detection by making structured cash withdrawals from various ATMs and purchasing flight tickets to high-risk areas using credit cards. Whenever the individual exceeded his withdrawal limit, alternative travel methods were adopted.
Furthermore, the terrorist attempted suspicious transfers exceeding €1,000 to a local charity with potential terrorism links. These transactions, coupled with expenditures on luxury goods and escort services, raised concerns.
The NFIU urged law enforcement agencies to investigate transactions by individuals associated with known terrorists or financiers, unauthorized tax collections or forced donations in terrorism-prone areas, and Bureau de Change operators facilitating transfers within suspected networks.
It also highlighted multiple cash deposits in bank accounts, large deposits followed by cash withdrawals at Point of Sale operators, money transfers from Nigeria to high-risk countries, recruitment of individuals to open multiple bank accounts, and financial transfers to charities linked to terrorism as areas of concern.