The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has accelerated efforts in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing in order to remove Nigeria from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
This is according to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Tuesday.
ACP Adejobi disclosed that Nigeria was placed on the FATF grey list in February 2023, designating the country as a high-risk jurisdiction for money laundering and terrorism financing.
“In response to this critical situation, the Nigeria Police Force has been actively tackling these issues through the establishment of specialized units such as the Special Anti-Fraud Unit (SFU), the National Cybercrime Centre, and the newly launched Anti-Money Laundering Unit.
“Collectively, these initiatives aim to enhance Nigeria’s compliance with international standards and facilitate the country’s removal from the FATF grey list.
“Over the past year, these specialized units have made significant strides in combating financial crimes, resulting in the arrest of 1,088 suspects, securing 152 convictions, and recovering a total of $11,450,000 and ₦142,261,254,228.80. The National Cybercrime Centre, in particular, has been pivotal in addressing digital financial crimes, leading to the arrest of 751 cybercrime suspects and extensive recoveries amounting to ₦8,821,001,881.80, $84,000, and 115,237.91 USDT,” the statement partly reads.
The spokesperson mentioned that a notable achievement includes Operation Butterfly Net, addressing a cyber attack on Flutterwave, which led to the arrest of 179 individuals involved in laundering over ₦11 billion.
He disclosed that in addition to the proactive efforts of the NPF, the establishment of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Sections has bolstered the framework surrounding financial investigations.
“The training of over 2,000 officers across various units in money laundering and terrorism financing investigations is reflective of the Force’s commitment to improving Nigeria’s global standing in combating financial crimes.
“With the submission of quarterly AML/CFT reports to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Nigeria’s ratings within the FATF regime have also significantly improved, indicating the effectiveness of these initiatives.
“As we move forward, the Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its commitment to combating money laundering and terrorism financing, ensuring that Nigeria meets international requirements set by the FATF,” he stressed.
The security agency urged all relevant ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to collaborate in this critical effort of lifting Nigeria from the FATF grey list.
Adejobi acknowledged that the fight against financial crime is far from over, however, he noted that the progress made by the Force in investigations, arrests, and prosecutions demonstrates the determination to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system and restore trust in the financial institutions.
He further assured the public and the international community that the NPF is taking all necessary steps to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.
