The United States Government has sanctioned a Nigerian businessman, Muhammad Mukhtar Adamu, and three Bureau De Change companies over allegations of supporting the financing network of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The sanctions were announced in a statement issued on Monday by the U.S. Department of State through its spokesperson, Thomas Pigott. The action also targets two other individuals and a total of six companies allegedly linked to financial activities benefiting the Islamic State (ISIS).
According to U.S. authorities, Adamu allegedly used currency exchange businesses under his ownership or control to facilitate the movement of funds connected to the extremist group.
The affected Nigerian companies are Nine To Nine Exchange Bureau De Change Limited and Generation Currency Bureau De Change Limited, both based in Lagos, as well as Manhattan Bureau De Change Limited in Kano.
The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the sanctions are aimed at disrupting financial networks that support terrorist organisations and their operations.
Also sanctioned are Abderrahmane Miloud, also known as Ghazi Ibrahim, a French national accused of maintaining financial links with ISIS-affiliated individuals, and Abdelhakim Boukich, also known as Babili Muhammad, who is alleged to have facilitated cryptocurrency transactions connected to the group.
U.S. authorities stated that the designated individuals and entities were identified as part of efforts to curb terrorism financing and dismantle global support networks linked to ISIS.
As of press time, neither Muhammad Mukhtar Adamu nor the affected companies had issued an official response to the allegations and sanctions.
Source: BBC Hausa
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