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Olukoyede Tasks Stakeholders on Strict Compliance with FATF Laws

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has charged  all stakeholders  involved in tackling money laundering,  including Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs), Licensing Authorities and Self-Regulatory Bodies, to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations of the ongoing reforms in  Anti-Money Laundering Law/ Countering Terrorist Financing/ Countering Proliferation Financing AML/CFT/CPF.

He gave the charge on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja.

In his opening address, Director, Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), Harry Erin, who spoke for the EFCC’s Chairman appreciated the critical roles of stakeholders in their consistent collaboration in the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation and sued for stronger collaboration.

According to him, the meeting was crucial as Nigeria is approaching a landmark in its ongoing appointment with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) billed to visit the country soon.

“This meeting is timely and strategic. It comes at a point when Nigeria is approaching a decisive milestone in its ongoing engagement with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG)”, he said.  He assured the stakeholders that through the combined efforts of government institutions, supervisory bodies, law enforcement agencies and private sector operators , Nigeria has made significant progress in addressing identified strategic deficiencies in its AML/CFT/CPF regime and “action items in our ICRG Action Plan.”

 Notable among the action items, he stressed, are the implementation of a full range of AML/CFT market entry controls, improvements in risk-based supervision across sectors, the implementation of targeted financial sanctions and the strides made in improving beneficial ownership transparency. He further stated that progress made so far have been recognised during past reviews and are a testament to what can be achieved through coordinated national efforts.

 However, Erin reminded the stakeholders that “we are now entering a critical phase. The FATF Joint Group will be conducting an onsite visit to Nigeria in the coming weeks. This visit is not merely a formality. It is a rigorous, evidence-based assessment of our sustained implementation of the ICRG Action Plan”.

He demanded high-level stakeholders’ commitment and responsiveness of supervisory authorities, adding that SRBs will be under scrutiny during the visit. To this end, he pointed out that, “We must collectively demonstrate that Nigeria’s AML/CFT/CPF reforms are not only well-intentioned, but also deeply institutionalised, effectively enforced, and consistently applied”.

 He stressed the need for all stakeholders to abide by the rules, adding that enforcement of sanctions for non-compliance will be applied.

 “While SCUML continues to engage and build capacity among DNFBPs, we must now match these efforts with robust enforcement. Compliance cannot be optional. Entities that repeatedly fail to meet their obligations, whether in registration, record keeping, customer due diligence, or suspicious transaction reporting, must be held accountable

  “Sanctions, where necessary, will be imposed in accordance with the law. The era of impunity in our compliance landscape must come to an end if we are to retain the gains we have made and be fully delisted from the FATF grey list”, he said.

He also pointed out that “our goal is not merely to pass the FATF test—it is to build a credible, transparent, and resilient AML/CFT system that strengthens investor confidence, fosters economic growth and protects our national and international reputation.”

President and Chairman of Council of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, REDAN, Prince Akintoye Adeoye, in his goodwill message commended the EFCC and SCUML for their steadfast commitment to sanitizing Nigeria’s financial and non-financial sectors against the threat of money laundering and illicit financing.

Adeoye explained that the real estate sector is undeniably a key driver of economic growth, both nationally and globally, stressing that its strategic position also makes it vulnerable to abuse by criminal elements, seeking to launder illicit funds.

Speaking on the expectations and DNFBP Sector’s role during the FATF Joint Onsite visit in supporting Nigeria’s exit from the FATF Grey List, Head, Compliance & Enforcement, SCUML, Kazeem Oseni, gave a background of FATF Onsite Visit and the expectations from DNFBPs’ strategic roles and preparations for the visit and consequences of non-cooperation, describing it as a call to action.

  “Expectations from DNFBPS must show compliance evidence.  The DNFNPs must also be able to show compliance evidence such as, submitting STRs to NFIU, maintaining AML/CFT policies and procedures, provide evidence of staff training records and show internal monitoring and compliance documentation.”

She urged them to cooperate with SCUML, SRBs, and other regulators, by attending stakeholders’ engagements and outreaches in preparation for the onsite and participate in FATF preparatory sessions and be available for interviews or documentation reviews.

Addressing the stakeholders on the overview of Nigeria’s progress on the FATF ICRG Action Plan, ACE 1 Korede Abdul-Aziz said Nigeria has made key progress areas by completing the 2nd National Risk Assessment (NRA) and disseminated findings across sectors.

According to her, the country has also completed Sectoral Risk Assessment across the DNFBPs sub-sectors and has established National AML/CFT/CPF Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) for effective inter-agency collaboration and developed a comprehensive AML/CFT Strategy aligned with risk outcomes. The engagements had in attendance representatives from the Mining Cadastral Office, Nigerian Bar Association, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, FCT Lottery Regulatory Office, and the Jewelers Marketers Association.

Images from the event.

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Ola Olukoyede, spoke with members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on May 21, 2024.

This significant event occurred at the prestigious Auditorium of the NBA Secretariat in Abuja. The engagement underscores the importance of the collaboration between the NBA and the EFCC in addressing Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing compliance.

Representing the Chairman was CE Daniel Isei, Director of the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering.

Delivering the Chairman’s goodwill message, CE Daniel Isei expressed the Chairman’s joy in seeing collaboration between the EFCC and the Nigerian Bar Association on the issue of lawyers’ compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism regime in Nigeria.

“I feel very strongly that the lawyers who are pillars of justice are the critical component in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing”, Olukoyede said. The Chairman noted that he would spare no effort to see that the collaboration is enhanced and works seamlessly to the overall interest of all parties and Nigeria.

The Chairman commended the NBA President for proactively integrating essential AML/CFT measures into the NBA Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC), demonstrating a commitment to upholding the highest standards in the legal profession.

He also informed the participants that the collaboration was necessary at a time when Nigeria was putting all hands on deck to ensure that the country exited the FATF grey list. He mentioned that the event is one of the activities that will showcase strong collaboration between competent government authorities and self-regulating bodies to address the issues of money laundering and terrorist financing.

The representative of the EFCC Chairman appreciated the large number of participants, which showed the willingness of legal practitioners to implement the NBA AML/CFT Rules of Professional Conduct.

In his welcome address, the NBA President, Mr Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau OON, SAN, appreciated the Chairman’s collaboration. He stated that the NBA needed to collaborate with the EFCC to fill the gaps identified in discharging their responsibilities. He said lawyers should take the lead in the fight against corruption as they are vested with the knowledge of the law in any society.

He said that legal practitioners must understand the laws to guide the nation. He also mentioned that the collaboration demonstrates the lawyers’ responsibility to contribute to the fight against corruption.

The President further announced the establishment of the NBA Anti-Money Laundering Committee (NBA AMLC). This significant step will serve as a crucial interface between law enforcement agencies and the NBA, facilitating effective communication and collaboration in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

ACE II Ngunan Kakwagh and CSE Temitope Erinomo of the EFCC delivered insightful presentations titled ‘Overview of AML/CFT Global Requirements for Legal Practitioners’ and ‘Guidelines for Conducting Market Entry Controls and KYCs,’ respectively. A panel discussion ensued after these presentations, featuring distinguished panellists, including Prof. Ernest Ojukwu SAN and Mr. Babajide Ogundipe, a renowned member of the NBA who contributed significantly to the development of the NBA Rules of Professional Conduct Guidelines 2023, and Dr Emmanuel Sotande from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). The panellist engaged with participants, addressing questions and sharing their expertise on the topic.

Conference for Banks and Non-Profit Organizations

The Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) has conducted a terrorist-financing risk assessment (TFRA) of non-profit organizations (NPOs) in Nigeria, in line with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 8. The TFRA identified ten categories of Non-Profit organizations that meets the definition of NPOs as set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) NPOs. The TFRA also identified the subsets of NPOs—with certain features, types, activities, and characteristics— that have higher vulnerability to Terrorism financing (TF) abuse.

The assessment further underscores the need for measures that must be risk-based and proportionate, and not disrupt legitimate charitable activities. As with all countries in the world, banks and other financial institutions(BOFIs) are major stakeholders in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing as they serve as gateways to the
financial sector for NPOs who .Many NPOs faces limited access to banking services when working in conflict /insurgent regions translating to low access to conventional financial services.

To this end, SCUML in collaboration with Spaces4change-our technical partner for the TFRA organized a one day conference for commercial banks, Fintechs, and other financial institutions to become aware of the findings of the Terrorism Financing Risk Assessment of the NPO Sector conducted by SCUML, and the risk profiles of the different categories of NPOs.

The workshop held on 8 the February, 2024 at Four Points Hotel, Victoria Island,Lagos. The project’s overarching goal is to improve understanding of banking regulations—especially anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) measures—applicable to charitable entities in Nigeria, towards enhancing the regulatory compliance culture
in the non-profit sector. 

The conference had in attendance government agencies(SCUML, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Corporate Affairs Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria),Compliance Institute of Nigeria, Non Profit Organizations, commercial banks and donor community.

Pictures from the Programme.

EFCC Charges International NGOs on Transparency, Accountability

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 charged the International and Local Non-Governmental Organizations to provide the anti-graft agency with the ‘‘lists of beneficiaries’’ of the funds provided for ‘Internally Displaced Persons’ as mandated by law to help in combating money laundering and terrorism financing in the Northeast.

The Director, Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, which is domiciled in the EFCC, Daniel Isei gave the charge at an interactive meeting with the Nigeria INGO Forum at the Grand Pinnacle Luxury Hotel, Maiduguri, Borno State.

The lists required from the INGOs and NGOs will enable the EFCC through the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) identify and verify the actual beneficiaries of the palliatives and cash provided by donors so that the funds will not get into the hands of wrong persons during disbursement.

‘‘Our engagement with the INGOs is to ensure and enforce compliance with the regulations and laws against money laundering and to combat financiers of terrorism activities and this can only be achievable through proper identification of the beneficiaries of the Aids flows provided by the INGOs,’’ Isei said.

He emphasized the need for transparency and accountability by INGOs in the discharge of their humanitarian duties.

The SCUML Director reiterated the importance of presenting ‘‘Cash Notification Forms’’ to the Maiduguri Command for vetting and approval before disbursing funds to ‘Internally Displaced Persons’ to reduce the risk of sabotage and bring financiers of terrorism to book.

He warned that adequate sanctions as provided by law will be meted to any erring INGO and NGO that refuse to conform to the laws and regulations.

The Deputy Coordinator of the Forum, Yasmine Chawaf commended the EFCC for its proactive approach towards combating money laundering and terrorism financing, especially efforts to ensure that monies declared and moved to the IDPs camps gets to the right people in the Northeast.

The Forum is absolutely confident of having a more robust collaboration under the new leadership of the EFCC to further enhance effective service delivery to humanity. Also, we assure the Commission of our maximum cooperation at all time’’, she said.
Present at the meeting were the Maiduguri Zonal Commander, Onwukwe C. Obiora and Mary Amachree Ibinabo, Assistant Director, SCUML

EFCC, SCUML AND PAGMI HOLD SENSITIZATION TOWN HALL MEETING FOR ARTISANAL AND SMALL SCALE GOLD MINERS AND TRADERS IN MINNA

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC and Special Control Unit against Money Laundering SCUML in conjunction with the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative PAGMI, today 27th July 2021, held a one-day sensitization and town hall meeting for artisanal and small scale miners in Minna, the Niger State capital.

Addressing the miners at the event with the theme:“EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AND COMBATING THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM MEASURE IN THE DNFBPs SECTOR”, the Director of SCUML, Mr. Daniel Isei, who was represented by the Head Strategic Analysis, Mrs. Ibinabo Mary Amachre said the purpose of the workshop was to sensitize dealers in precious stones and metals of their AML/CFT obligations, create awareness, and build competence in their compliance abilities.

Stressing the reason for the sensitization programme, Daniel Isei noted that “criminals have now turned their focus on the dealers in precious stones and metals sector to perpetrate money laundering, terrorist financing, as well as carry out most of their nefarious criminal activities including kidnapping and banditry”.

According to the SCUML boss, “in recognition of this phenomenon, it becomes incumbent on us to take deliberate and decisive actions to stop criminals from abusing the dealers in the sector. We must therefore be conscious of our obligations and responsibilities under the Nigerian AML/CFT regime and develop a culture of compliance with AML/CFT measures”.

The Executive Secretary, PAGMI, Hajiya Fatima Umar Shinkafi who was represented by Dr. Martina Ananaba said the core mandate of PAGMI is to forge the formalization and integration of artisanal gold mining activities into Nigeria’s legal, economic and institutional framework. As stated by her, “PAGMI’s focus and purpose for this town hall meeting is three-pronged. The first is to sensitize the gold traders, dealers and miners in the gold supply chain on the existence, role and purpose of PAGMI and what it can offer to the gold trading society. The second is to demonstrate our collaboration with the EFCC and clarify how we would both be acting together in this landscape towards our joint objectives, and the third is to bring to your attention the relevant laws within the sector which cover both the PAGMI and EFCC operations. The knowledge of these laws will arm you in carrying out your business legally and without fear of any reprisals”.

Highlighting the advantage of the initiative, Hajiya Shinkafi said the collaboration between PAGMI and EFCC was necessary and timely for revenue development.

While appreciating the Commisssion and SCUML for this initiative, Abdulkarim Muhammed, Secretary of Gold Sellers Association of Minna Modern Market, Niger State and Hon. Uba Adamu, Public Relations Officer, Miners Association of Nigeria Niger State Chapter, expressed their delight in this collaboration, underscoring their association’s disapproval of using the sector to launder money or finance terrorism. They reassured their sector’s internal audit mechanism which enables them to fish out anyone associated with these crimes.

COURTESY VISIT TO SELF-REGULATORY ORGANIZATIONS (SROs) AND TRADE ASSOCIATIONS (TAs)

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In the spirit of collaboration and cooperation, the Director of SCUML, Mr. Daniel Isei, having the mandate of the new Executive Chairman of the EFCC, paid courtesy visits to the Leadership of the DNFBP SROs. The visits were aimed at seeking partnership and synergy in the fight against money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing amongst the DNFBPs in Nigeria.

During the visits, the Director also used the opportunity to enlighten and sensitize the leadership of the SROs on the AML/CFT obligations, duties and liabilities of their members and need for collaboration.  

On their part, the Leadership of the SROs pledged their unalloyed supports for SCUML and by extension, the EFCC in its new drive in the fight against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing. They also reiterated their commitment to ensure that their members comply with the Nigeria AML/CFT laws and supplementary regulations.

The Director, in a company of some of his senior officers visited the SROs at their respective Corporate Headquarters, in Lagos and Abuja. The following SROs and TAs were:

  1. Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN)
  2. Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN)
  3. Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN)
  4. Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV)
  5. Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN)
  6. Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN)
  7. Lagos State Lottery Board
  8. Nigeria Network of NNGo
  9. Spaces for Change
  10. Association of Casinos Operators of Nigeria (ACON)
  11. Jewelry Marketers Association of Nigeria (JEMA)
  12. Precious Metal Gold Processors and Exporters Association of Nigeria (PMGPEAN)
  13. Nigeria Lottery Operators Forum (NLOF)
  14. Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria

Sensitisation Workshop for SRBs

SCUML organised a 2-day zonal sensitisation workshop for Self Regulatory Bodies (SRBs) in the Designated Non-Financial Business and Profession (DNFBP) Section on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML & CFT). This porgramme was funded by the European Union and held on 30th and 31st January 2019.