It is appalling the effrontery displayed by the Director, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) in his lame but constant denial of THE QUEST TIMES’ allegations and questions.
Reports have detailed several questions regarding Mr. Modibbo Tukur’s concealing incriminating reports on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar among other conduct unbecoming of an official overseeing a critical anti-corruption agency.
In a press release titled “Again, NFIU reacts to fake, malicious publication, says unit is not protecting former VP Atiku Abubakar” NFIU’s Chief Media Analyst, Ahmed Dikko responded to a recent QUEST TIMES’ story “INVESTIGATION: How NFIU’s boss, Modibbo used agency to protect Atiku, others” which details the agency’s boss Modibbo’s pathetic attempt to deny the claims. His response unfortunately is nothing more than a diversion meant to deceive the public.
Multiple trusted sources and evidence have pointed to Modibbo’s alleged involvement in covering up illegal actions within the NFIU. These charges have harmed the agency’s credibility and eroded international and public trust in its capacity to combat financial crime efficiently.
To say Modibbo has virtually ruined NFIU’s reputation is an understatement. Even from Dikko’s poorly written press response, an alert reader can tell Modibbo is battling with credibility concerns. Here is his response to charges that his organization protected former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his allies. “Who are the others? Why mention Atiku alone this time?” This statement only further questions NFIU’s integrity as an anti-corruption agency.
THE QUEST TIMES published an excerpt from the damning Intelligence report presented by the equivalent agency of the Republic of Malta to the NFIU in June 2019 ie its anti-corruption and money laundering agency, the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU). The 6-page report details how Atiku and his associates were involved in illegal financial transactions. We dare the NFIU, Modibbo or Dikko to request the Maltese agency make a public statement that it has never compiled such a report on Atiku nor forward same to NFIU. If they won’t do that, then they should keep quiet!
Rather than addressing the concerns made by whistleblowers and trusted sources, Modibbo has decided to deny any wrongdoing while failing to provide substantial evidence to back up his statements. The assumption that he is involved in the corruption that has afflicted the NFIU is only strengthened by this lack of transparency.
While THE QUEST TIMES will not rehash the frivolities brought by the NFIU’s response to its published writeups, I will again personally challenge the NFIU or Modibbo himself to provide the written confirmation from the Maltese FIAU that it did not submit the indicting report on former Vice President Atiku. This should not have been so difficult for Modibbo and NFIU to accomplish if they had nothing to conceal instead of Dikko’s sophistry and Modibbo’s timid earlier reply which he suddenly asked to be deleted after he ran to the then Speaker of the House of Representatives the Right Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila.
Furthermore, Modibbo’s dismissive attitude toward these severe claims casts doubt on his competence to manage a financial crime-fighting organization. A person in his position should be accountable, transparent and committed to following the highest ethical standards. Modibbo’s attitude however, simply serves to confirm the notion that he is more focused on defending his own questionable reputation than resolving the important issues brought up.
In view of the new Administration’s current investigations into financial and corruption investigative organizations, it is vital that a complete and independent investigation into the NFIU be conducted to uncover activities within the agency for the public good and international credibility.
The NFIU’s integrity and efficacy in combating financial crimes are at jeopardy, and immediate action is required to restore public trust and hold those involved accountable.
The NFIU and other such agencies who perform similar roles deserve CEOs who are committed to fighting corruption, not one who is involved in it. It is past due for a thorough examination of the NFIU’s management and operations to guarantee that the organization can carry out its mission without this kind of avoidable and shameless conduct of Modibbo and his ilk.
*Olalekan Adigun is a public interest journalist who works for THE QUEST TIMES