NFIU to politicians: Stop pressuring us to release information

The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) says there have been attempts by politicians and senior government officials to “introduce politics and illegal pressure” to extract information from the unit.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ahmed Dikko, NFIU spokesperson, said the unit has guidelines with which it operates.

Dikko said the agency does not release information “for administrative, civil and business reasons or requests”.

“We had to appropriately enlighten all calibre of officers in this category to know that Intelligence Institutions of government are generally apolitical, operating within fixed and tailored mandate,” he said.

“The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit is also an agency created at the heart of global best practice to support crime analysis and intelligence building locally and internationally.

“For future and records, our laws and standards permit us to share information with Law enforcement, Regulatory, Defence and Security and corresponding agencies in over 170 countries who are also co-owners and co-controllers of Intelligence and compliance processes at all FIUs.

“Equally we will always respond to any attempt or an inkling of it to bring or introduce or incline local and international politics to our operations.

“FIUs are also consistently reviewed mutually.

“So even for our staff, there are repeated warnings. Influence peddling or mediocrity can substitute professional conduct or personal character. Any Officer, whose conducts do not meet FIU best practices will always be responded to within the law.”