Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been accused of using his accounts with Guaranty Trust Bank, GTBank, to finance and support terrorist operations.
Ekpa, who has attracted attention for his vocal support of secessionist movements, is alleged to have used his bank accounts to facilitate the movement of funds intended for terror-related activities. The funds were reportedly used to recruit, arm, and supply insurgents involved in destabilizing efforts across various regions.
In addition to using his GTBank accounts, Simon Ekpa is said to have leveraged his platform to raise funds through donations and payments disguised as legitimate transactions.
According to findings, these funds were funneled through a network of individuals and shell companies to obscure their true purpose, thus evading regulatory and financial scrutiny.
In response to these developments, the federal government has taken action against Ekpa and other individuals and entities implicated in terrorism financing by adding them to the Nigeria Sanctions List and freezing their bank accounts.
The action follows a recommendation from the Nigeria Sanctions Committee during a meeting in Abuja on last week Thursday and aligns with Section 54 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Ekpa’s accounts with Guaranty Trust Bank, specifically numbers 0118835791, 0115442299, and 0115442275, have been frozen.
The action, taken under Section 54 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, received approval from both the Attorney-General of the Federation and the President.
As part of the sanctions, all funds, assets, and economic resources belonging to the designated individuals and entities have been frozen immediately.
The Nigeria Sanctions Committee has instructed financial institutions to identify and freeze any accounts associated with the named individuals and entities without prior notice.
This measure applies to all assets, whether directly or indirectly controlled, jointly owned, or derived from their activities.
Furthermore, financial institutions are required to submit Suspicious Transaction Reports to the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) for further investigation.
Recall the Finnish authorities had arrested Ekpa on November 21, 2024, for alleged terrorist activities in Nigeria, which resulted in the freezing of his assets and those of associated companies.
