A Nigerian suspect, Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi, is
expected to face trial in the United States for
allegedly supporting a designated foreign
terrorist organisation, al-Qaeda in the Arabian
Peninsula (AQAP).
The 33-year old suspect was allegedly given
about $9,000 by AQAP leadership to recruit
other English speakers from Nigeria to join the
terrorist group.
Charges were preferred against Babafemi
yesterday by the U.S Attorney for the Eastern
District of New York, Loretta E. Lynch; the
Acting Assistant Attorney-General, National
Security Division, John Carlin and the Assistant
Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI), New York Field Office,
George Venizelos.
A statement by the Information Office, Public
Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria,
said Babafemi is also known as “Abdullah” and
“Ayatollah Mustapha”.
The embassy said the suspect would soon be
extradited from Nigeria to the U.S for trial.
The statement said: “An indictment was
unsealed yesterday in the Federal Court in
Brooklyn, New York, charging a Nigerian
citizen with providing material support to a
designated foreign terrorist organisation, al-
Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (“AQAP”), and
using high-powered firearms in furtherance of
that crime.
“The United States is currently seeking the
extradition of the defendant, Lawal Olaniyi
Babafemi, also known as “Abdullah” and
“Ayatollah Mustapha,” from Nigeria.
“At the request of the United States, the
Nigerian government thereafter commenced
extradition proceedings against the defendant
in July 2013.
“The charges were announced by E. Lynch,
Carlin, and Venizelos.
“United States Attorney Lynch acknowledged
the continued cooperation and assistance of
the government of Nigeria in terrorism matters
affecting both nations.
“According to court documents, between
approximately January 2010 and August 2011,
the defendant travelled twice from Nigeria to
Yemen to meet and train with leaders of AQAP,
the Yemen-based branch of al-Qaeda.
“Babafemi assisted in AQAP’s English language
media operations, which include the
publication of the magazine, Inspire.
“At the direction of the now-deceased senior
AQAP commander Anwar al-Aulaqi, Babafemi
was provided by AQAP leadership with the
equivalent of almost $9,000 in cash to recruit
other English-Speakers from Nigeria to join
that group.
“While in Yemen, Babafemi also received
weapons training from AQAP.”
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