Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District has called on the Federal Government to reveal the Identities of the Bureau De Change (BDC) operators who are allegedly facilitating money to terrorists’ group — Boko Haram.
Ndume, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army cautioned the federal government against the secret trial of the BDC operators numbering up to 400.
The senator made the call during a press briefing in Abuja, on Sunday.
Recall that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, had disclosed that the Federal Government had arrested some BDC operators who are allegedly sponsoring the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents.
He said some Nigerians transferring money to the sect from the United Arab Emirates were working with the BDC operators.
In his words, “Bureau de change are facilitating money to terrorists. We have already worked with the UAE.
“Convictions have been achieved of Nigerians who are transferring money to Boko Haram terrorists and this also happens domestically.
“I tell you that by the time we finish this investigation, the shocking details will surprise many Nigerians,” Shehu had said.
Also, according to reports, some of the BDC operators were traders at the Foreign Exchange market in Wapa, Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State.
The report also revealed that some prominent BDC Operators had been arrested in connection to the allegations. The Operators were identified to be Baba Usaini; Abubakar Yellow; Yusuf Ali Yusuf; Ibrahim Shani; Auwal Fagge and Muhammad Lawan Sani.
However, Ndume maintained that the Federal Government is obliged to expose those sponsoring Boko Haram. According to him, Nigerians deserve to know what the government was doing concerning the suspects.
Ndume, who was also a Senate Majority Leader, recalled that he was publicly persecuted during his trial on charge of terrorism.
Ndume was tried on a four-count charge of terrorism by the Federal Government in 2011. Ndume was alleged of sponsoring the activities of Boko Haram.
However, he was acquitted of all allegations in 2017 by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court of Abuja.
In his words, “The Presidency said recently that Nigerians would be shocked if it revealed the identities of those who are sponsoring the Boko Haram insurgents.
“Can you imagine that 400 Bureau De Change operators are the people funding the Boko Haram?
“When the BDC operators are arrested now, what will the government do with them. The presidency is already saying their case is confidential. What is confidential about it?
“The presidency should expose the identities of all the BDC operators so far arrested and carry out their trial in public.
“If any of them is innocent, he should be allowed to go while those found guilty must be made to face the music.
“When I was wrongly accused, I was tried publicly and I was vindicated. The trial lasted six years in an open court. If there is any criminal act linked to anybody. No matter how highly placed, let the evidence be placed before the public, there should be no secret trial.
“Nowadays, criminals are arrested and paraded without further action. Nobody knows what happens to the people who killed 11 soldiers in Benue State recently?
“What happened to those who beheaded policemen in Cross River State?
“If everyone is doing what he is supposed to do as defined by our constitution and laws, we would not have these problems. Citizens should expose suspicious movements.”
