On March 3rd, 2025, a significant milestone in Nigeria’s anti-money laundering efforts was achieved as the African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development, in partnership with the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), handed over ICT equipment and launched a new Anti-Money Laundering (AML) web portal for the Nigerian Bar Association’s Anti-Money Laundering Committee (NBAAMLC).
The event, held at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja, showcased a unified commitment to ensuring that Nigeria meets international AML standards and works toward removal from the FATF grey list.
In his opening remarks, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN emphasized the indispensable role of the NBA AMLC, and lauded the African Center and its partners for building digital solutions like the STR reporting portal that empower lawyers to act without fear of exposure.
Representing the African Center’s Executive Director Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, Obialunanma Nnaobi-Ayodele stressed that the support was borne out of the urgent need for a comprehensive AML/CFT risk assessment in Nigeria’s legal sector — a critical requirement for FATF compliance.
Jehanzeb Khan, speaking on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), praised the initiative’s rapid progress and reiterated the importance of sustained collaboration in the fight against illicit financial flows.
This handover marks a step forward in equipping the legal profession with tools and knowledge to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system
