Benin City, Nigeria — October 17, 2025
As part of its drive to strengthen Nigeria’s response to financial crimes, the African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development convened lawyers from NBA branches across Edo and Delta States for a One-Day Training of Trainers Workshop in Benin City. The session focused on equipping lawyers with the skills and knowledge to champion Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) compliance within their branches.
The One-Day Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshop forms part of the African Center’s UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)-supported project titled “Tackling Illicit Financial Flows through Asset Recovery, Management, and Strengthening ML/CFT/PF Compliance in Nigeria.”
The workshop aimed to build the capacity of lawyers as frontline gatekeepers in the fight against financial crimes and equip selected NBA representatives to serve as in-house trainers within their branches.
Delivering the opening presentation, Mrs. Obialunanma Nnaobi-Ayodele, Deputy Project Director of the African Center, emphasized the urgent need for lawyers to safeguard their profession from criminal exploitation.
“Money laundering remains a global menace. Every day, new methods are devised by criminals to conceal illicit proceeds. As a Designated Non-Financial Business and Profession (DNFBP), the legal profession is particularly vulnerable to exploitation,” she said.
She outlined four key objectives of the training: strengthening NBA branches and compliance officers, equipping in-house trainers to cascade knowledge, improving adherence to AML/CFT standards, and protecting law firms from misuse.
Nnaobi-Ayodele commended the UK FCDO for its continued support and acknowledged the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) as a key partner in driving financial integrity and governance reforms.
The NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, represented by Chief Olayiwola Afolabi, SAN, in his keynote address, reaffirmed the Association’s determination to foster a culture of compliance within the legal profession. He highlighted the NBA-AML Portal as a practical demonstration of the NBA’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct. The platform, developed in collaboration with the African Center and the NBA Anti-Money Laundering Committee (AMLC), serves as a self-regulatory mechanism for law practices across Nigeria.
He further urged participants to become compliance champions within their branches, helping Nigeria exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list and restore investor confidence in the country’s financial system.
ANEEJ Commends Partnership, Describes Lawyers as “Enablers of Integrity”
In his goodwill message, Reverend David Ugolor, Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), commended the collaboration between ANEEJ and the African Center under the FCDO-supported project.
He emphasized that lawyers play a crucial role in curbing illicit financial flows, describing them as “critical enablers of integrity and accountability” in both public and private transactions.
“Through this partnership with the African Center, and with FCDO’s support, we are building a stronger ecosystem where professionals understand their obligations and act as gatekeepers against illicit financial practices,” Ugolor stated.
He urged participants to take their roles seriously and to serve as catalysts for compliance within their branches, adding that collective effort remains key to protecting Nigeria’s financial integrity.
The technical sessions featured presentations by Dr. Maryam Idris Abdulkadir, Assistant Secretary of the NBA-AML Committee; Chris Ugwuala, Esq.; Moira Frank-Peterside, Esq.; and Tijani Dauda of the African Center. Sessions covered topics such as the global AML/CFT framework, professional ethics, reporting obligations (SAR/STR), and the use of risk-based approaches and Know Your Customer (KYC) principles.
Tijani Dauda led a hands-on demonstration of the NBA-AML Portal, showing how the tool supports compliance monitoring and reporting. Participants engaged in interactive group discussions and case scenarios to apply AML/CFT concepts in practice.
Representatives from NBA branches in Benin, Auchi, Ekpoma, Asaba, Warri, Effurun, Ughelli, Sapele, Oleh, Agbor, and Udu attended the workshop. Participants described the session as eye-opening and timely, noting that it enhanced their capacity to promote compliance within their branches.
The Benin City workshop is part of a nationwide series of capacity-building sessions under the FCDO-funded project being implemented by the African Center in partnership with ANEEJ.
The initiative aims to tackle illicit financial flows, improve asset recovery and management, and enhance Nigeria’s compliance with international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards.
Through sustained engagement with professional bodies and institutions, the African Center remains committed to promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainable development across Africa.
