Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The United States has imposed sanctions on Abu Musab Al-Barnawi and seven other Nigerians over alleged links to terrorism financing and cybercrime, freezing their assets within U.S. jurisdiction.
The sanctions were contained in a voluminous document released at the weekend by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), an agency of the United States Treasury. The publication lists individuals and entities designated as Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) for terrorism, cybercrime, and other security-related offences.
According to the document, the affected Nigerians were accused of links to extremist groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
The latest action comes amid renewed scrutiny by the U.S. Congress, which recently recommended visa bans and asset freezes on some Nigerian actors, including former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as well as certain Miyetti Allah groups, over alleged security and human rights concerns.
OFAC explained that the document serves as a public reference tool, providing notice of actions taken against SDNs whose property and interests have been blocked as part of Washington’s counter-terrorism and anti-crime measures.
“This publication of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is designed as a reference tool providing actual notice of actions by OFAC with respect to Specially Designated Nationals and other persons—both individuals and entities—whose property is blocked, to assist the public in complying with the various sanctions programmes administered by OFAC,” the agency stated.
Among those sanctioned is Salih Yusuf Adamu, also known as Salihu Yusuf, born August 23, 1990, in Nigeria. OFAC identified him as having links to Boko Haram. Yusuf was among six Nigerians convicted in 2022 in the United Arab Emirates for establishing a Boko Haram cell to raise funds for fighters in Nigeria.
The group was found guilty of attempting to transfer about $782,000 from Dubai to Nigeria.
Another individual listed is Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, born March 4, 1953, in Nigeria, who was designated under terrorism-related sanctions. He was said to have operated under several aliases, including Wole A. Babestan and Olatunde Irewole Shofeso.
Also sanctioned was Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi, also known as Ba Idrisa, reportedly born between 1989 and 1994 in Maiduguri, Borno State. He was flagged under terrorism provisions.
Abu Musab Al-Barnawi—also known as Habib Yusuf—was listed with varying birth years between 1990 and 1995. He was identified by U.S. authorities as a Boko Haram leader and sanctioned for terrorism-related activities.
Khaled (or Khalid) Al-Barnawi, whose name appeared twice in the publication, was born in 1976 in Maiduguri. He was linked to Boko Haram and reportedly used several aliases, including Abu Hafsat and Mohammed Usman.
Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, born January 31, 1981, in Nigeria, was also designated. He was reported to reside in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and was accused of links with Boko Haram.
Another sanctioned individual is Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Ali Al-Mainuki, also known as Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, born in 1982 in Mainok, Borno State. He was identified as having ties to ISIL.
In the cybercrime category, Nnamdi Orson Benson, born March 21, 1987, in Nigeria, was listed under [CYBER2] sanctions. He was said to hold a Nigerian passport.
The sanctions mean that all property and interests of the designated individuals within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, while U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in financial or commercial transactions with them. Nigerians listed by OFAC face asset freezes under Executive Order 13224.
The United States officially designated Boko Haram a foreign terrorist organisation in 2013. According to the U.S. State Department, the group has been responsible for numerous attacks in northern and northeastern Nigeria, as well as in the Lake Chad Basin regions of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, resulting in thousands of deaths since 2009.
Under U.S. law, the Secretary of State also determines countries that have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism, with such designations made pursuant to relevant provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act, the Arms Export Control Act, and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
