From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has issued a public notice and advisory to politicians and senior government officials over the sudden rise in requests and illegal pressure for information from the agency.
A statement by Chief Media Analyst Ahmed Dikko said it has become necessary to enlighten and let them know that Intelligence Institutions of government are generally apolitical, operating within fixed and tailored mandate.
He explained that the agency was created at the heart of global best practices to support crime analysis and Intelligence building locally and internationally.
Dikko said the law establishing the agency, permits it 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.
He warned that the agency does not release information for administrative, civil and business reasons or requests.
The statement reads: ‘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 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.
‘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.
‘Additionally and categorically we do not release information for administrative, civil and business reasons or requests.
‘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.’