U.S. Freezes Assets Of Eight Nigerians Over Alleged Terror And Cybercrime Links

 

The United States has frozen the assets and properties of eight Nigerians reportedly linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The action was contained in a 3,000-page document dated February 10, released by the United States Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

The document, titled “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List,” also identified individuals sanctioned for cybercrime-related offences and other security threats.

According to OFAC, the publication serves as a formal notice of actions taken against Specially Designated Nationals whose property and interests are blocked under the U.S. sanctions programmes.

“This publication of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is designed as a reference tool providing actual notice of actions by OFAC with respect to Specially Designated Nationals and other persons (which term includes both individuals and entities) whose property is blocked, to assist the public in complying with the various sanctions programmes administered by OFAC,” the agency stated.

The sanctions mean that all property and interests of the named individuals within the U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

Among those listed is Salih Yusuf Adamu, also known as Salihu Yusuf, born August 23, 1990. He was identified as having ties to Boko Haram and was reported to hold a Nigerian passport.

Yusuf was among six Nigerians convicted in the United Arab Emirates in 2022 for establishing a Boko Haram cell to raise funds for insurgents in Nigeria. The group was found guilty of attempting to transfer $782,000 from Dubai to Nigeria.

Also designated was Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, born March 4, 1953, who appeared under several aliases, including Wole A. Babestan and Olatunde Irewole Shofeso.

Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi, also known as Ba Idrisa, reportedly born between 1989 and 1994 in Maiduguri, Borno State, was flagged under terrorism-related sanctions.

Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, also referred to as Habib Yusuf, was identified as a Boko Haram leader and sanctioned under terrorism provisions.

Khaled (or Khalid) Al-Barnawi, born in 1976 in Maiduguri, was linked to Boko Haram and listed under aliases including Abu Hafsat and Mohammed Usman.

Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, born January 31, 1981, and reported to reside in Abu Dhabi, was also linked to Boko Haram.

Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Mainuki, also known as Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, born in 1982 in Mainok, Borno State, was identified as having ties to ISIL.

Nnamdi Orson Benson, born March 21, 1987, was listed under CYBER2 sanctions and reported to hold a Nigerian passport.

The sanctions follow recent recommendations by U.S. lawmakers for visa bans and asset freezes on individuals and groups accused of religious freedom violations in Nigeria.

Under Executive Order 13224, Nigerians listed under the U.S. Treasury sanctions face asset freezes and restrictions as part of Washington’s counter-terrorism financing measures.

The United States officially designated Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation in 2013, citing its involvement in numerous deadly attacks in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region.