Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has charged female lawyers across Nigeria to actively join forces with the anti-graft agency in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, emphasising that legal practitioners serve as critical gatekeepers of the nation's financial system. Olukoyede gave the charge on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, during a one-day training programme organised for members of the NBA Women Forum, Abuja branch, themed “Mastering SCUML Registration and AML/CFT Compliance Training for Legal Practitioners.” Represented at the event by the Deputy Commander of the EFCC, Samu Pascal, the EFCC boss urged the lawyers to consistently protect the legal profession and national interest while discharging their duties, warning them to guard against making their services available for illicit financial activities.
Olukoyede stressed that the legal profession plays a pivotal role in strengthening Nigeria's Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism, and Countering Proliferation Financing framework. He reminded the lawyers that their responsibilities extend far beyond rendering legal services, as they also serve as gatekeepers of the financial system, helping to prevent the misuse of legal services for money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation. The training, he said, was designed to improve lawyers' comprehension of their obligations under the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2002 and related AML/CFT/CPF regulations, while also providing a platform to address practical compliance issues, emerging trends and typologies, and enhance cooperation between the EFCC's Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering and the legal community. “Your contributions will help us develop practical solutions that support compliance while maintaining the highest standards of professional ethics,” he told the participants.
In her remarks, the leader of the NBA Women Forum, Abuja Chapter, Hadiza Afegbua, expressed gratitude to the EFCC for providing the forum members with the opportunity to receive direct training on AML/CFT/CPF frameworks. She noted that legal practitioners play distinctive roles in upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the integrity of the nation's financial system, adding that as professionals, they would ensure that the legal profession is not misused for money laundering and terrorist financing. Afegbua commended the SCUML team for partnering with the forum and for their willingness to share their expertise with the lawyers.
Delivering a paper titled “Lawyers, Compliance, and National Security: Understanding AML/CFT, Equipping Nigerian Legal Practitioners for Regulatory Excellence,” Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Korede Abdulaziz, urged the female lawyers to consistently recognise their responsibilities as gatekeepers and familiarise themselves with the 2022 AML/CFT legal framework. She emphasised the importance of conducting Customer Due Diligence and identifying Ultimate Beneficial Owners, while also highlighting the need for them to navigate the complexities of Legal Professional Privilege alongside reporting obligations. Abdulaziz further urged the lawyers to adopt a risk-based approach in their organisations to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
The training programme reflects the EFCC's ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration with the legal profession in combating financial crimes and enhancing the integrity of Nigeria's financial system. By equipping lawyers with the necessary knowledge and skills to identify and prevent money laundering and terrorist financing, the commission aims to build a more robust compliance culture within the legal sector. The engagement also underscores the critical role of female lawyers in the fight against economic and financial crimes, as the commission continues to leverage partnerships with professional bodies to advance its anti-corruption agenda.
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