The Federal Government of Nigeria has stated why it is yet to prosecute individuals suspected of financing terrorism, stressing that the process requires extensive and delicate investigations that cannot be rushed.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said this on Friday in an interview on Channels Television.
Idris said that contrary to public perception, the matter was not as simple as having a list and immediately taking suspects to court.
His comment is coming in the wake of the growing concerns over alleged government complicity in the escalating insecurity ravaging the country.
Successive governments have faced public pressure to identify and prosecute individuals suspected of financing terrorism, especially Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandit groups operating in the North.
Officials under the administration of late former President Muhammadu Buhari, were said to have disclosed that some suspected financiers had been identified, raising expectations that trials would soon follow.
Speaking on the matter, Idris said, “It is not a question of having the list or not having the list; it is not as simplistic as that. Investigations have to be conducted. In some cases, there are merits in what they said.
“You don’t say, ‘because pronouncements have been made, let me take you to court directly.’ There must be sufficient investigation carried out.”
According to him, the administration of President Bola Tinubu was working assiduously to end terrorism and other security threats.
