Home - The African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development.

UN-House

THE AFRICAN CENTER FOR GOVERNANCE, ASSET RECOVERY, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

From Punitive Listing to Supported Compliance: A Policy Brief for African FATF-Style Regional Bodies

Our Publications Resources / Publications / SPECIAL OPERATION PROCEDURE (SOP) FOR EFFICIENT RECOVERY OF STOLEN ASSETS From Punitive Listing to Supported Compliance: A Policy Brief for African FATF-Style Regional Bodies Greylisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is costly for African economies. Africa accounts for nearly 30% of jurisdictions on the list, and listing is associated with capital inflows falling by an average of 7.6% of GDP. The process behind it also gives affected countries little voice. This brief does not argue for weaker anti-money laundering controls. It calls for a compliance compact between African FATF-style regional bodies (FSRBs) and […]

United States Returns $2.5 Million in Stolen Assets to The Gambia

The U.S. Department of Justice announced the return of approximately $2.5 million in corruption proceeds to the Republic of The Gambia, funds traced to the family of former President Yahya Jammeh. The money will compensate victims of the Jammeh regime under The Gambia’s Victims Reparations Act of 2023. The Case According to the Department of Justice, Jammeh and his wife, Zineb Jammeh, used embezzled public funds and bribes solicited from businesses seeking monopoly rights over sectors of the Gambian economy to purchase a mansion in Potomac, Maryland. Investigators say the couple relied on a network of shell companies and offshore trusts […]

United States Returns $29.7 Million to Curaçao: A Case Study in Enforcing Foreign Forfeiture Orders

United States Returns $29.7 Million to Curaçao: A Case Study in Enforcing Foreign Forfeiture Orders In a separate development, the U.S. Department of Justice said it would transfer approximately $29.7 million to the Government of Curaçao in three instalments. The funds represent proceeds of an eight-year fraud and money laundering scheme involving an unlicensed lottery and unpaid taxes on its earnings and other income, run against the Curaçao government. The Case According to court documents, Robertico A. Dos Santos orchestrated the scheme and was prosecuted and convicted in Curaçao. At Curaçao’s request, the U.S. Justice Department’s Money Laundering, Narcotics, and Forfeiture […]

SDG 16 and Agenda 2063: Why Strong Institutions Matter More Than Ever

SDG 16 and Agenda 2063: Why Strong Institutions Matter More Than Ever Introduction As world leaders gathered in New York for the 2026 SDG Moment on 18 September, one message was hard to ignore: with less than four years to the 2030 deadline, accelerating sustainable development will require more than renewed commitments and increased financing. It will require institutions capable of translating policies, resources and reforms into measurable improvements in people’s lives. The urgency is clear. The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026 shows that, of the 139 SDG targets with sufficient trend data, only 36 per cent are on track or […]

African Center Invites Proposals for M&E and Assessment Tools for the NBA AMLC

The African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development (African Center), in partnership with the Nigerian Bar Association Anti-Money Laundering Committee (NBA AMLC), is inviting proposals from qualified Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Experts and Firms to develop a set of practical M&E, assessment, compliance-monitoring and reporting tools for the NBA AMLC. The assignment forms part of the second phase of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)-funded Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/PF) project, which supports the Nigerian legal profession to prevent and mitigate money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing risks. Opportunity: Development […]

African Center Congratulates NBA President, Strengthens Partnership with Nigerian Bar Association

The African Centre paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, to congratulate her on assuming office as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association. In attendance at the meeting were the Executive Director of the African Center, Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu; the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Okeke, Esq.; and other staff members of both organisations. The Centre and the Nigerian Bar Association have maintained a productive working relationship over the years, particularly through collaboration with the NBA Anti-Money Laundering Committee (NBA-AMLC). With funding from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & […]

September AML/CFT Webinar to Examine Virtual Assets, Compliance and Risk Management

The African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development will host the September edition of its AML/CFT Monthly Webinar Series on the topic: “Virtual Assets: Ensuring AML/CFT Compliance and Risk Management.” Virtual assets are increasingly reshaping how value is transferred, stored and exchanged. As their use expands, however, they also present emerging challenges relating to money laundering, terrorist financing, regulatory compliance and the ability of professionals and institutions to effectively identify and manage associated risks. The webinar will provide participants with practical insights into the evolving virtual-asset landscape, key AML/CFT risks, regulatory expectations and measures that can strengthen compliance and risk […]

International Youth Day 2026: African Center Calls for Greater Youth Inclusion in Governance and Development

Press Statement: The African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development joins the global community in commemorating International Youth Day 2026, under the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.” Observed annually on 12 August, International Youth Day provides an important opportunity to recognize the contributions of young people and draw attention to the conditions required for them to participate meaningfully in development and decision-making. This year’s theme reflects the different social and economic realities facing young people across the world, while highlighting their shared aspirations for quality education, decent work, good health, inclusion, opportunity and a better future. For Africa, where […]

NBA-AMLC and the African Center to Host Webinar on Artificial Intelligence and Financial Crime Detection

NBA-AMLC and the African Center to Host Webinar on Artificial Intelligence and Financial Crime Detection The Nigerian Bar Association Anti-Money Laundering Committee (NBA-AMLC) in collaboration with the African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development, will host its monthly AML/CFT webinar on “Artificial Intelligence and Financial Crime Detection: Opportunities, Risks and Regulatory Challenges.” The webinar will examine the growing role of artificial intelligence in detecting and combating financial crime. It will explore the opportunities presented by AI-powered technologies, the risks associated with their adoption and misuse, and the emerging legal, ethical and regulatory challenges for legal practitioners, compliance professionals and […]

African Center Joins the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons Campaign

Today, 30 July 2026, the African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development joins the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and stakeholders around the world to commemorate the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. This year’s campaign, themed “Trapped Behind the Scam,” draws attention to people trafficked into online scam operations and forced by criminal networks to carry out cyber-enabled fraud. As part of the global campaign, we are sharing the following message from UNODC: A fake job offer can become a trafficking trap. Criminal networks lure people with promises of legitimate work. Instead, many are trafficked […]

The African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery, and Sustainable Development (“the African Center”) is an independent civil society organisation based in Nigeria. We work to institute good governance and accountability systems at the local, state, and federal levels of government. We pay particular attention to Goal 16, which aims to create solid institutional foundations for sustainable development.

Explore Our Annual Reports
Discover the impact, milestones, and future vision of the African Center in our latest Annual Report.

Stay Informed with Our Newsletters
Explore the latest updates, community impact, and upcoming initiatives from the African Center in our most recent newsletters.

A timely contribution to the global conversation on anti-corruption. Ownership of Proceeds of Corruption in International Law examines asset recovery through a victim-oriented, human-rights-based lens.

📘 Get a copy of the book via the link below:
Click to GET this Book

Or scan the QR code on the flyer.
📩 For further enquiries: info@africancenterdev.org

Improving Government Accountability

The Recovery and Return of Stolen Assets

The Implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Vision

We envision a world free from illicit financial flows, where proceeds of crime are recovered and returned to the victims of corruption to improve livelihood and reduce poverty and inequality.

Mission

Our mission is to reinforce the links between governance, asset recovery, and sustainable development goals in line with Agenda 2030 and the promotion of the rule of law, strengthening justice institutions, preventing illicit financial flows, recovering stolen assets, and social reuse of stolen assets.