The Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) has advised Designated Non-financial Institutions (DNFLs) against being agents of corruption and terrorism in Nigeria.
The Director of SCUML, Mr Bamaga Bello, gave the advice on Wednesday in Lagos at a two-day sensitisation workshop for DNFLs on compliance obligations under the Nigerian Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).
The workshop was organised by SCUML in collaboration with the British Council under the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme in Nigeria.
The workshop was also with the support of European Union.
Bello, represented by the SCUML Head of Compliance and Enforcement, Mr Effa Okim, said that many DNFLs had become agents of corruption and terrorism with their operations.
He said that many terrorists and corrupt persons no longer used the banks to move illegal funds because of the strict check by agents of governments.
Accordingto him, they now make use of DNFLs facilities.
The director said that terrorists and corrupt persons would prefer to buy cars, houses or other properties with cash that could not be traced or tracked by anti-corruption and terrorism agencies.
Bello said that all DNFLs were expected to give reports of transactions involving certain amount of money to SCUML or other bodies, adding that such reports would help to check corruption and terrorism.
“This workshop is one of our outreach programmes designed to create awareness and build capacity for AML/CFT compliance in the DNFLs sector in Nigeria.
“Money laundering and terrorist financing are financial crimes with significant negative economic and security impact.
“It is without doubt that money laundering and terrorism financing remains a problem in both developing and developed economies.
“ The workshop is also designed to enhance your understanding on how your organisations could be abused by money launderers and terrorist financiers to perpetuate unscrupulous activities.
“SCUML is committed to partnering with relevant stakeholders in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing to enhance the overall AML/CFT regime in Nigeria,” he said.
RoLAC Programme Officer, Mr Pwanakei Dala, said the workshop was part of the organisation’s efforts to fight corruption and terrorism in Nigeria.
Dala said that the workshop had been held in Abuja, and would take place in three more states during the year.
He said about 50 participants at the workshop were drawn from businesses of hotels, hospitality, supermarket, casinos, automobile, luxury goods, accounting firms, real estate, NGOs, tax, pools betting and lottery amongst other enterprises.
