The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Thursday directed banks and other financial institutions to immediately freeze all transactions, accounts, and assets linked to six individuals and four Bureau de Change (BDC) operators designated for terrorism financing.

The directive was contained in a circular dated June 24, 2026 (Ref: CMD/FCS/PUB/CIR/002/011), obtained by Channels Television.

According to the apex bank, the latest update to the Nigeria Sanctions List, which took effect on June 18, 2026, is binding on all regulated institutions and must be implemented without delay.

The circular stated that the CBN notified regulated entities of new sanctions issued by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NIGSAC) and the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) under Executive Order 13224, as amended.

The six individuals added to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) and Blocked Persons List are Muktar Muhammad Adamu, Babangida Muhammed Adamu Hammajam, Abdullahi Umar Usman, Ibrahim Abubakar, Adamu Chiroma, and Yakubu Ogirima Ibrahim.

The four Nigeria-based money service businesses and BDCs designated as owned or controlled by the listed individuals are Generation Currency Bureau De Change Limited, Manhattan Bureau De Change Limited, Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau De Change Limited, and Abbal Bako & Sons Bureau De Change Limited.

The CBN directed financial institutions to “identify and immediately freeze, without prior notice, all funds, assets, and other economic resources belonging to, owned, held, or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the designated persons and entities.”

The directive follows recent sanctions imposed by the United States Government on Mukhtar Muhammad, a Lagos-based BDC operator, and three companies allegedly under his control.

In a statement issued earlier this week, OFAC alleged that Muhammad, also known as Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad, facilitated financial transactions and money transfers on behalf of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the West African affiliate of the Islamic State terrorist group.

OFAC also sanctioned Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau De Change Limited, Generation Currency Bureau De Change Limited, and Manhattan Bureau De Change Limited, alleging that the companies were used to channel funds to the terrorist organisation.

The directive further applies to companies or entities that are 50 per cent or more owned, individually or collectively, by the sanctioned persons.

Financial institutions were also instructed to ensure that no funds, financial services, or economic resources are made available, directly or indirectly, to the designated individuals or entities.