By Rafiu Ajakaye
LAGOS
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied allegations that it is funding terrorism or that it is privy to information linking its officials to the Boko Haram insurgency.
"In your letter, you had requested from the CBN information about persons or office involved in alleged money laundering activities of the Boko Haram through the CBN and information on the exact nature and duration of any such transactions," the bank said in a written response to queries from a prominent rights group.
"We wish to inform you that after investigating the allegations across various departments at the bank that deal with payments, the bank could not find any information pertaining to persons involved in money laundering through the CBN to fund the activities of Boko Haram," the bank asserted.
Relying on Nigeria's Freedom of Information Act, which allows citizens to request information on any issue (provided it does not harm national security), the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a local NGO, wrote to the bank to demand information about alleged terrorism funding.
Stephen Davis, a British-Australian hostage negotiator, recently alleged that Boko Haram commanders had told him that they obtained funding through top CBN officials.
He also alleged that group commanders had told him that the bank maintained an account through which militants obtain funding.
Davis' claims have sent shockwaves across Nigeria.
But in its letter to SERAP dated October 16 - a copy of which was obtained by Anadolu Agency - the CBN denied the allegations.
"The CBN as banker to the federal government only maintains accounts for and on behalf of the government, its ministries, departments and agencies; deposit money banks and other financial institutions in Nigeria and can only make payments on their behalf based on authorized mandates," it said.
"Consequently, the CBN does not maintain or operate any accounts for individuals, officers or offices within the bank," it added.
It remains unclear whether SERAP will withdraw a lawsuit it recently filed after the CBN initially failed to respond of its letter.
Efforts to obtain comment from CBN Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni were unsuccessful.
In the lawsuit filed on October 14, the group asked the court to determine whether the CBN was obliged under the Freedom of Information Act to provide the plaintiffs with the information requested.
The NGO warned that failure to respect the law could "enthrone arbitrariness."
The case, however, has yet to be heard.
Nigeria has battled Boko Haram insurgents for the past five years, with thousands killed and millions displaced, mostly from the northeastern region, where the crisis is primarily concentrated.
A cease-fire agreement between the Nigerian government and the militant group – announced Friday – has drawn widespread skepticism, particularly after the eruption of fresh hostilities in Borno and Adamawa states.
Government sources, however, insist the cease-fire is genuine, stressing that further talks are still underway in Chadian capital Ndjamena.
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