The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit has reiterated that it is unmoved by the legal battle instituted by Nigerian governors challenging its role in monitoring how local government funds disbursed from the federation account are being handled.
The NFIU Director, Mr Modibbo Hamman-Tukur, who disclosed this in a telephone interview with Punch on Monday, explained that the case of diversion of local government fund by a state government had been addressed, adding that tighter fiscal control had been put in place to prevent a recurrence.
Hamman-Tukur, however, said stronger action would be taken against the state if it again breached the NFIU guidelines.
He stated, “We have spoken to the banks and they confirmed that the case of violation happened at the state capital level and they took immediate action to rectify it and from what we see, it cannot happen again, but if it happens (again), we have to take a stronger action.”
When asked what specific action the unit would take against the state, the director said, “The action we will take is in the guidelines; we will just take it to the next level. Our action with regard to money laundering and prevention of it extends up to functions, irrespective of what other people say.”
