Stop pressuring us to divulge classified information, NFIU tells politicians

The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has stated that some politicians and senior government officials are pressurising its staff to disclose classified information.

NFIU clarified that laws and ethics of Nigeria only allow it to share information with enforcement, regulatory, defence and security and corresponding agencies in over 170 nations.

According to a statement on Wednesday, by NFIU Chief Media Analyst, Ahmed Dikko, titled, ‘Public notice and advisory to politicians and senior government officials,’ the unit said it discloses information with the nations because they are also co-owners and co-controllers of intelligence and compliance processes at all Financial Intelligence Units.

The statement followed the reported dismissal of two senior NFIU officials for allegedly carrying out an unsanctioned probe of ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.

Dikko warned the concerned people to stop putting illegal pressure on the unit and desist undue requests for information.

He said, “We are forced to react to attempts to introduce politics, illegal pressure on and inordinate requests for information from the NFIU.

“We had to appropriately enlighten all calibre of officers in this category to know that intelligence institutions of government are generally apolitical, operating within a fixed and tailored mandate.

“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.”