EXCLUSIVE: SaharaReporters Uncovers 23 Suspected Terror Financiers With Billions In Suspicious Transactions

The network identified in this report spans both Nigerian and international actors, with clear links to convicted individuals involved in terrorism.

SaharaReporters has obtained detailed information on a network of 20 Nigerian and three international individuals suspected of financing and facilitating terrorism, particularly linked to Boko Haram activities.

The investigation traces their personal data, financial transactions, and associations, highlighting links to convicted individuals and international arms and funds transfers.

SaharaReporters gathered that the Nigerian suspects, arrested in 2021, were subsequently released under questionable circumstances.

Local Suspects

1. Alhaji Saidu Ahmed

Alhaji Saidu Ahmed, also known as Alh Saidu or Alhaji Saidu Gold, born on July 6, 1961, is a Nigerian businessman residing in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Identified as a key financier of Boko Haram, he is connected to multiple associates and convicts through extensive financial transactions.

His accounts have recorded inflows totaling N4.8 billion, with frequent cash withdrawals. He is directly linked to convicts Surajo Abubakar Muhammad, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, and Bashir Aliyu Yusuf, as noted in UAE court proceedings.

2. Usaini Adamu

Born on 2nd March 1963 in Nigeria, Usaini Adamu, also known as Baba Hussaini or Hussaini Adamu, is a businessman operating in Kano. Serving as a guarantor for convicts’ accounts, his BVN-linked accounts, 111 across nine banks, reflect inflows and outflows exceeding N43 billion and N50 billion, respectively.

He has been implicated in facilitating the procurement of weapons and other logistical support for terrorist activities.

3. Muhammad Sani Adam

Muhammad Sani, born March 28, 1978, is a businessman and trader in forex and precious stones, operating in Kano and Yola.

His 41 BVN-linked accounts across 14 banks reveal inflows of N54.1 billion and outflows of N54.4 billion, primarily in transfers to and from known convicts. He is recognized as the right-hand associate of Alhaji Saidu.

4. Abubakar Adamu Yellow

Abubakar Adamu Yellow, aka Yellow Amfani, born on October 18, 1968, is a Kano-based businessman with 42 accounts across 13 banks.

Between 2014 and 2019, he executed transfers amounting to tens of millions of naira to convicts and key associates of Alhaji Saidu.

His total inflow and outflow over recent years stand at N61.4 billion and N51.7 billion, respectively, signaling suspicious financial activity.

5. Murtala Abdullahi Jega

Born on December 1, 1970, Murtala Jega is a Kano-based businessman and BDC operator with 94 accounts in nine banks.

He received N60 million from convict Bashir Ali Yusuf and transferred funds to Leaf Tobacco & Commodities, reportedly used in procuring weapons for terrorist activities. He also received significant sums from associates of convicted individuals, reflecting deep entanglement in illicit networks.

6. Sadiq Garba Abubakar

Sadiq Garba Abubakar, born on May 10, 1980, operates as a trader in Kano and Abuja.

With 30 accounts across 13 banks, he transferred over N1.65 billion to convict Surajo Abubakar Muhammad between 2015 and 2017, as well as additional funds to other convicted individuals and their associates, establishing him as a central figure in financing operations.

7. Hussaini Adamu

Hussaini Adamu, born on May 2, 1974, is a Kano-based businessman with financial links to convicts totaling billions of naira, transferring funds among members of the network. His role has been pivotal in facilitating funds across convicts’ circles.

8. Mustapha Ibrahim Yakubu

Born on December 12, 1966, Mustapha Yakubu is a businessman operating between Wuse and Kano.

His 39 BVN-linked accounts reveal significant transfers, including N2 billion to Bahafs Global and N345 million to Murtala Jega, tying him to arms and logistics operations supporting Boko Haram.

9. Ali Abdullahi Yusuf

Ali Abdullahi Yusuf, born 9th September 1982, is a businessman based in Kano and elder brother of convicts Ibrahim Ali Alhassan and Bashir Ali Yusuf.

His 43 accounts across 11 banks show transactions with Surajo Abubakar Muhammad and more than 40 associates, underscoring his involvement in the financing network.

10. Nasiru Shuaibu

Nasiru Shuaibu, born on June 15, 1973, operates between Gusau and Minna.

His 17 accounts across 10 banks recorded large inflows from convicts and other key associates, including N5.4 billion transferred from Muhammad Sani, highlighting significant financial facilitation.

11. Yusuf Ghazali

Born on March 18, 1982, Yusuf Ghazali is a forex trader in Kano with 385 accounts across 10 banks. He transferred funds to multiple convicts and is named in UAE court judgments as a facilitator of terrorist financing from Dubai to Nigeria.

12. Mansur Muhammad Usman

Mansur Usman, born on April 22, 1981, is a textile dealer in Kano. He was repeatedly identified in UAE judgments as a money transfer agent for Boko Haram, facilitating transfers of millions of naira and recruiting individuals into terrorist activities. He maintained 18 accounts across 13 banks.

13. Yazid Usman Muhammad

Born on November 5, 1985, Yazid Muhammad is a businessman in Kano with five accounts across three banks. Between 2015 and 2018, he received N830,950 from Mansur Usman Muhammad and is mentioned in UAE court judgments as a money transfer agent supporting terrorist financing.

14. Alhaji Musa Emma

Musa Emma, born on February 1, 1962, operates in Maiduguri with 15 accounts across eight banks.

His accounts recorded consistent cash withdrawals exceeding N2.4 billion, with large inflows from convicts and their networks, suggesting a central role in money laundering and terrorist financing.

15. Modu Sulum

Born on September 7, 1972 in Maiduguri, Borno State, Modu Sulum maintains a single BVN-linked account. He has financial links with Musa Emma and other suspects in Maiduguri, an epicenter of the group’s operations, indicating involvement in coordinated financial activities.

16. Adamu Aliyu Kanoma

A jewellery dealer born on January 1, 1970 in Gusau, Zamfara, Adamu Aliyu Kanoma holds 83 accounts across 11 banks.

He executed cumulative cash withdrawals over N10 billion between 2016 and 2020, received funds from Bashir Ali Yusuf and other associates, and transacted with over 22 associates of the convicts and Alhaji Saidu.

17. Habibu Muhammad Usama

Habibu Usama, born on June 7, 1978, is a businessman in Gusau with 39 accounts across 12 banks.

He received N65 million from convicts, transferred N3 million to Alhaji Saidu, and conducted cash withdrawals exceeding N7 billion, indicating significant involvement in terrorist financial networks.

18. Nurudeen Gani Aliyu

Also known as Alhaji Nura, born on December 31, 1967, Nurudeen Gani Aliyu operates as a businessman and BDC operator in Sokoto.

His 218 accounts across 10 banks facilitated large transfers to Leaf Tobacco & Commodities and other entities, establishing him as a major financier of Boko Haram activities in Nigeria.

19. Ladan Ibrahim

Born on March 7, 1968, Ladan Ibrahim is a public servant and chairman of the Sokoto Pilgrims Welfare Agency.

His 47 accounts across five banks transferred significant sums to Alhaji Nura Gani Aliyu and affiliated entities, linking public funds to terrorist financing channels.

20. Sadiq Garba Abubakar

Included above as a central financier with multiple transactions to convicts and their associates.

Meanwhile, the international suspects were listed as Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa, his son, Paul Nkwaya and Aboubacar Hima.

1. Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa

Born on March 1, 1940 in Rwanda, Ayabatwa, who died in April 2024, was a businessman and tobacco dealer with residences in Nigeria and South Africa.

His 70 accounts across 13 banks show inflows of N67 billion and outflows of N34 billion. He received funds from Alhaji Nura Gani and facilitated offshore transfers to South Africa linked to the convicts’ financial networks.

2. Paul Nkwaya, a Rwandan businessman born on August 7, 1967, is the son of the late Ayabatwa. They co-owned Leaf Tobacco & Commodities.

He shares the same 70 BVN-linked accounts and was involved in receiving and transferring funds connected to convicts and terrorist financing operations.

3. Aboubacar Hima

Born on March 18, 1973 in Niger, Hima, also known as Petit, was identified by the investigating Nigerian authorities as an arms dealer operating in Abuja.

His 35 accounts across two Nigerian banks facilitated transfers exceeding $1.19 million from the UAE to convicts’ associates. He is under investigation for criminal conspiracy, money laundering, and fraud involving hundreds of millions in multiple currencies.

The network identified in this report spans both Nigerian and international actors, with clear links to convicted individuals involved in terrorism.

The financial trails, cross-border transactions, and repeated mentions in UAE court judgments indicate a coordinated effort to fund and support terrorist operations, warranting further monitoring and prosecution.