NFIU Disowns Reports On NASS, Judiciary’s Bank Details

BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has disowned media reports on its purported demand on commercial banks to furnish it with account details of principal officers of the National Assembly and the nation’s Judiciary

It described the reports as not only untrue but also a figment of the authors’ dubious imagination.

The NFIU’s denial is contained in a statement signed by its Chief Media Analyst, Ahmed Dikko and released to the media in Abuja.

According to the statement, the NFIU said given its statutory mandate, it has unfettered access to details of all bank accounts in the country and therefore does not need to make such demands on banks as speculated in the skewed media reports.

The full statement titled: “NFIU DOESN’T NEED TO WRITE BANKS FOR ACCOUNT DETAILS” said: “The attention of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), has been drawn to media reports stating that the unit has requested banks to furnish it with the account details of principal officers of the National Assembly and the Judiciary. Such reports are not true.

“In line with its powers as provided in the NFIU Act 2018, the Unit already has access to details of all bank accounts in the country and does not therefore, need to write to commercial banks asking for the same information.

“As a matter of fact, relevant reporting entities such as investigative and other Law Enforcement Agencies always rely on the NFIU for information on bank details of individuals and body corporate under investigation as they go about carrying out their functions. Such is a mandatory reporting process.

“The Unit does not also make blanket requests to all banks as is being speculated in the reports 

“The media and indeed the general public are therefore, requested to disregard such reports.”