Tobias Sylvester
The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has commenced an investigation into bank accounts belonging to Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Reps Femi Gbajabiamila and other principal officers and members of the National Assembly.
The bank accounts of all judges in Nigeria, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammad are also under investigation.
The bank accounts of “other relevant politically exposed persons,” are also included.
The NFIU has taken a giant step in their secret investigation and written to all banks in the country, to send the banking information of the names under investigation.
The letter signed by the NFIU’s Associate Director, Analysis and Compliance, Fehintola Salisu, gave the banks up till September 13 (Friday) to comply with the directive.
The Financial Intelligence agency further asked the banks to provide account names, numbers and transaction details of the top civil servants.
The letter addressed to all Chief Compliance Officers of the banks was tagged:
“Request for information on all accounts of 1. the National Assembly. 2. All accounts of all the members of the National Judicial Council. 3. All accounts of all the members of the National Assembly. 4. Accounts of principal officers (Management) of National Assembly Service Commission. 5. All accounts of principal officers of the judiciary.”
“Kindly provide the NFIU with a schedule (account names and account numbers) of the National Assembly, members of National Assembly and principal officers of National Assembly Service Commission, as well as all accounts of National Judicial Service Commission and their principal officers, including judges and other relevant politically exposed persons.
“Kindly note that your response is expected on or before September 13, 2019,” the letter read.
