Efforts to strengthen anti-money laundering compliance within Nigeria’s legal profession received a major boost in Abuja, as the African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development, in partnership with the Nigerian Bar Association Anti-Money Laundering Committee (NBA-AMLC), convened a one-day Training of Trainers workshop under the FCDO-funded project, “Tackling Illicit Financial Flows through Asset Recovery, Management, and Strengthening ML/CFT/PF Compliance in Nigeria.”
The programme brought together about 34 NBA branch representatives at NBA House, Abuja, for intensive capacity building on AML/CFT compliance and the effective use of the STR Portal.
Participants were drawn from NBA branches across the North Central region, including Abuja, Keffi, Kabba, Ankpa, Gwagwalada, Bwari, Idah, Minna, Nyanya-Karu, Suleja, Pankshin, Jos, Shendam, Bukuru, Gboko, Makurdi, Okene, and Lokoja, alongside a representative of FIDA.
Delivering the welcome address, Co-Chairman of the NBA AMLC, Mr. Babajide Ogundipe, commended the African Center for what he described as its consistent technical support to the legal sector. He stressed that strengthening compliance culture among lawyers remains critical to safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system.
Also speaking, a goodwill message from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), delivered by Mr. Anicetus Atakpu, highlighted the strategic importance of sustained vigilance within the legal profession. He noted that although Nigeria’s recent exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list marked significant progress, maintaining robust compliance practices, particularly at branch and firm levels, would be essential to preserving those gains.
The Executive Director of the African Center, Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, represented at the event by Mrs. Nnaobi-Ayodele, reiterated that the Training of Trainers model was designed to build durable, practice-oriented capacity across NBA branches nationwide.
In his keynote address, NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, reminded lawyers of their statutory “gatekeeper” responsibility in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing. He warned practitioners against relying on client instructions as a shield for non-compliance and urged the profession to strengthen Know-Your-Client (KYC) procedures, improve red-flag detection, and fully comply with reporting obligations. According to him, the ToT framework is expected to create a multiplier effect, enabling trained representatives to cascade AML/CFT knowledge across branches and embed compliance more firmly within legal practice.
The technical sessions, led by subject-matter experts, covered:
- AML/CFT obligations under the Rules of Professional Conduct (2023)
- Risk-based compliance, KYC, and customer due diligence
- STR/SAR reporting and red-flag identification
- Hands-on navigation of the NBA AMLC Portal
Facilitators consistently emphasized that AML/CFT compliance is both a regulatory requirement and a professional risk-management tool that protects lawyers, their firms, and the broader financial ecosystem.
At the close of the workshop, participants reported improved understanding of their compliance obligations and pledged to conduct step-down trainings within their respective branches. Organizers expressed confidence that the initiative would significantly deepen awareness of money laundering and terrorism financing risks within the legal profession.
The African Center and the NBA AMLC reaffirmed their commitment to providing continued technical support to NBA branches as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s AML/CFT architecture.
