FG has spoken on Terrorism-Financing trials delay while citing sensitive and complex investigations.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that the Federal Government has defended the slow pace in prosecuting suspected terrorism financiers, stressing that the process involves complex, highly sensitive investigations that cannot be rushed.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the clarification on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. He said public expectations for swift arrests and headline-grabbing trials fail to reflect the realities of tracing and proving financial networks that fund insurgency.
Idris noted that while Nigerians are increasingly frustrated by the delay, the government cannot move forward based on speculation or pressure from public opinion.
“It’s not about whether a list exists or not. The issue isn’t that straightforward,” he said. “You don’t rush to court simply because someone made a public pronouncement. Proper investigations must be carried out, and some of the concerns people raise are valid.”
Public scrutiny has grown since officials in the Buhari administration announced that a number of suspected financiers had been identified. Years later, prosecutions remain stalled, fuelling criticism that successive governments lack the political will to dismantle the financial lifelines of Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandit groups.
Idris, however, rejected claims of complacency. He maintained that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has recorded significant though often underreported security gains.
According to him, more than 13,500 bandits, criminals, and jihadists have been neutralised, while over 17,000 suspects have been arrested since May 2023. Many, he said, are already facing trial, with some convictions secured.
The minister also commented on delays in ambassadorial appointments, confirming that President Tinubu has completed the nomination list, which is currently undergoing security vetting.
On the diplomatic front, Idris revealed that the government is intensifying engagement with the United States and other partners to address misconceptions about Nigeria’s security situation and strengthen international cooperation.
“We are open to any regional or global collaboration; American or otherwise that can help end this crisis,” he said.
Despite mounting pressure for accountability, the government maintains that terrorism-financing trials will proceed only when investigations are comprehensive and capable of surviving judicial scrutiny.