Buhari names Modibbo Tukur director of NFIU

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Modibbo Tukur as director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

This was contained in a letter dated January 7, 2019, addressed to Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Buhari asked the upper chamber of the national assembly to confirm Tukur from Adamama state. The nominee is a holder of master’s of science (MSc) degree in international business.

According to a statement by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, Tukur, currently an assistant director in the NFIU, has vast international experience in illegal assets recovery.

NFIU had existed as a department in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This had prompted the Egmont Group, comprising 153 countries collaborating on monitoring international money laundering activities, to suspend Nigeria.

It was founded in 1995 to foster international collaboration in the exchange of intelligence by member states.

The group had sought autonomy for the unit, threatening to expel Nigeria if the condition was not met.

In July, Buhari signed a bill to make the unit autonomous.