President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the designation of Finland-based Biafra nation agitator, Simon Ekpa Njoku, and 15 others as terrorism financiers.

Consequently, the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, has listed the indicted Nigerians and certain entities on the Nigeria Sanctions List.

At the Nigeria Sanctions Committee meeting on 6th March 2025, the Nigerian government invoked Section 54 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, to take action against those indicted for alleged acts of terrorism against the country.

By invoking the Act, the Nigeria Sanctions Committee has been mandated to immediately identify and freeze, without prior notice, all funds, assets, and any other economic resources belonging to the designated individuals, in possession of banks, and report the same to the Sanctions Committee.

Banks and other financial institutions are required to report to the Sanctions Committee any assets frozen or actions taken in compliance with the prohibition requirements and to immediately file a Suspicious Transactions Report to the NFIU for further analysis of the financial activities of such individuals or entities.

Among those designated as terrorism financiers are Godstime Promise Iyare, Francis Chukwuedo, John Anayo Onwumere, Chikwuka Godwin Eze, Edwin Augustine Chukwuedo, and Chinwendu Joy Owoh.

Others include Ginika Jane Orji, Awo Uchechukwu, Mercy Ebere Ifeoma Ali, Ohagwu Nneka Juliana, Eze Chibuike Okpoto, Nwaobi Henry Chimezie, Ogomu Peace Kewe, Igwe Ka Ala, Seficuvi Global Company, and Lakurawa Group.

A statement from the AGF on Wednesday directed that freezing measures should be extended to all accounts associated with the designated individuals and entities.

For designated entities, the statement specified that the freezing should include accounts linked to their signatories and directors to ensure comprehensive enforcement of the sanctions regime.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday interrogated the immediate past Minister for Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, over her alleged involvement in the misappropriation, violation of procurement processes, and diversion of public funds amounting to N138.4 million during the disbursement of the ministry’s 2023 budgeted funds.

The former minister reportedly arrived at the EFCC headquarters around 11 am on Thursday, where she was questioned regarding her alleged role in the fraud.

Investigations by EFCC revealed that funds donated for the P-Bat Cares for Women Initiative were allegedly diverted for her personal enrichment.

It will be recalled that she was among the ministers President Bola Tinubu relieved of their duties in October 2024.

Uju Kennedy Ohanenye was appointed Minister of Women Affairs by Tinubu on 21 August 2023.

A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has described President Bola Tinubu’s appointments as lopsided, particularly in the Northwest, where Zamfara State—one of the key states that secured his victory in the 2023 presidential election—has been largely sidelined.

Speaking to journalists in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, during the inauguration of his political movement, the Wamban Shinkafi Democratic Front (WSDF), Shinkafi urged President Tinubu to address the imbalance in federal appointments and intensify efforts to resolve the persistent security crisis affecting Zamfara residents.

Shinkafi, who resigned as the National Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to join the APC alongside former Zamfara State Governor Bello Mohammed, expressed disappointment that despite Zamfara being one of only two Northwestern states—alongside Jigawa—that voted for Tinubu in the last election, it has not been adequately rewarded.

He labeled the distribution of appointments under Tinubu’s administration as a betrayal of the people of Zamfara and warned that if the situation is not corrected, it could undermine the president’s chances in the 2027 election, as the Northwest may withhold the overwhelming support it previously gave him.

Shinkafi also called on Tinubu to intensify efforts to combat insecurity across Nigeria, with a special focus on Zamfara, where armed groups continue to kill, maim, and abduct innocent civilians while displacing entire communities.

Shinkafi further claimed that APC in Zamfara is deeply divided, with party members losing trust and confidence in its leadership.

He vowed to resist any attempts to impose candidates in the 2027 elections and called for strict adherence to internal party democracy to restore fairness and unity within the party.