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EFCC Charges DNFBPs To Uphold Anti-Money Laundering Regulations

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EFCC

EFCC Charges DNFBPs To Uphold Anti-Money Laundering Regulations

EFCC charges DNFBPs to uphold anti-money laundering regulations. The Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede has charged Designated Non Financial Business and Professions, DNFBPs to adhere strictly to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 in the discharge of their duties.

He gave the charge at one-day Anti-money Laundering sensitization workshop for DNFBPs, organised on Thursday March 6, 2025 in Benin City by the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML with the theme: “From Awareness to Action: Mobilising DNFBPs for Compliance.”

The EFCC boss who spoke through the Acting Zonal Director, ACE I Effa Okim stated that one of the aims of the workshop was to broaden understanding on compliance as non-compliance with AML/CFT regulations had serious economic consequences for the nation. He noted that the Commission valued the participation of DNFBPs in the workshop as their businesses and professions were pivotal to the growth of the economy.

“As DNFBPs, you play a critical role in the growth of the economy. We are not here to stifle you businesses. All we want is that you operate within the rules and regulations as well as report suspicion transactions,” he said.

In his remarks, the Director of SCUML, who was represented by Pascal Samu, a Deputy Commander of the EFCC noted that it was important that stakeholders came together to tackle the menace of money laundering and terrorism financing.

“The fight against money laundering and terrorism financing is a global challenge that requires our collective efforts.

DNFBPs are at the risk of being used as conduit pipes through which illicit funds enter the legitimate economy. Therefore, it is important that we prepare ourselves to effectively identify the danger of these financial crimes,” he said.

Speaking further, he disclosed that the workshop was aimed at equipping DNFBPs with the right knowledge to contribute their quota in tackling money laundering.

“Our outreach programme is aimed at providing information concerning Know-Your-Customer, KYC, and Customers Due Diligence, CDD, measures including Politically Exposed Persons and the importance of compliance. We believe that with the right tools we can sufficiently reduce the risk within our system,” he said.

In his paper titled, “Application of KYC/CDD measures, PEP Reporting to prevent ML/TF risk for DNFBPs”, DCE Samu emphasised the importance of knowing your customers and carrying out due diligence by DNFBPs in order to guide against unwholesome practices.

According to him, “The more an organisation knows about its customers/clients, the greater the chances of preventing money laundering. In some cases the simplified KYC/CDD is sufficient. In other cases, further KYC/CDD is required and could be extensive.”

ACEII Morris Keiriama, Compliance and Enforcement Officer with SCUML in his paper, titled: “Implementation of Administrative Sanctions Regime for DNFBPs,” listed fines, suspension, revocation/withdrawal of licence and warning letter as administrative sanctions that can be imposed on DNFBPs for non-compliance with regulatory authorities.

Keiriama who also presented a paper on “Identifying and Reporting Suspicious Transaction Reports” urged DNFBPs to be vigilant in identifying suspicious transactions and ensure reporting of the same to relevant government agencies.

EFCC

EFCC

“Suspicious transactions are financial transactions that you have reasonable grounds to suspect are related to the commission of a money laundering, counter-terrorism or counter-proliferation of offence,” he said.

Head, SCUML Benin Zonal Directorate, SE Ibrahim Boyi in his paper titled:
“Implementing Targeted Financial Sanction on Terrorism Financing and Proliferation Financing” noted that Targeted Financial Sanction, TFS were sanctions imposed on specific individuals, groups or organisation to prevent them from carrying out deadly terrorism activities and disrupting world peace. He urged the DNFBPs to regularly check for watch-listed names.

Among DNFBPs that attended the workshop were real estate developers, chartered accountants, solid mineral miners, automobiles dealers and casino operators.

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EFCC Grills Raheem Abiodun Wasiu for Alleged $12,000 Fraud in Enugu

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EFCC Arraigns Gidado Ibrahim

EFCC Grills Raheem Abiodun Wasiu for Alleged $12,000 Fraud in Enugu

Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have commenced investigations into the activities of one Raheem Abiodun Wasiu, an alleged serial fraudster, for an alleged case of fraud to the tune of $12,000 (Twelve Thousand United States Dollars).
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Wasiu, 38, was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, following a complaint by one Ezekulie Stanley Chukwuamuanya, a Bureau De Change operator who claimed that he was defrauded the sum of $5000 (Five Thousand United States Dollars) by the suspect.

In the course of investigation by operatives of the EFCC, it was discovered that the suspect rents different Toyota Hilux trucks, disguises as a wealthy contractor, moves with escorts and meets BDC operators in the south-east and allegedly tricks them into parting with their had earned money, by presenting fake alerts in Naira to them, after collecting their money.

According to Chukwumuanya, “I gave him the dollar and he counted it by himself. After confirmation, he then asked for my bank details. After giving him my account number, he mentioned my name that popped up on his bank application, I confirmed it. The next thing he told me was that it had gone through, which I waited for the alert to come, to no avail. Because of time, he asked me to go and that I will get it, that it could be network issues and I left because of his personality”. He alleged that soon after that, the suspect became incommunicado.

Another petitioner, based in Owerri, Imo State, one Chief Nwaoha Ubaferem equally alleged that Wasiu defrauded him of the sum of $7,000. He said, “the dollar on me was $2,600, then I called my office to bring additional $4,400 to me to complete it as he requested for $7,000. As we were waiting, he complained that he was running late and we decided to move to Royce Road from Port Harcourt Road where he finally collected the money from me, resumed transfer, called my name and informed me that the transfer had gone which I believed but continued to expect alert from him”.

EFCC Arraigns Gidado Ibrahim

EFCC

Further investigations revealed that the suspect has toured the South-east, and Akwa Ibom State, using the same pattern to allegedly defraud BDC operators.

Items recovered from the suspect include: A Hilux truck (Akwa Ibom KTR 379 AA), various bank ATM cards, different bank transfer tokens, digital National Identification Number slip with the name Sunday Abiodun, two complimentary cards with the name Engineer Abiodun, a designer bag (Emporio Amani), One iPhone 17 Promax, One Samsung phone, 4G internet pocket WIFI, One Patek Philip wrist watch, vehicle particulars, One gold bangle and a pair of shoes (Alexandra MC Queen).

The suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
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EFCC Boss Orders Withdrawal of Charges Against Maryam Shehu, Abubakar Shuraim Abdulhamad

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Ola Olukoyede

EFCC Boss Orders Withdrawal of Charges Against Maryam Shehu, Abubakar Shuraim Abdulhamad

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has compassionately ordered the withdrawal of charges preferred against Maryam Isah Shehu and Abubakar Shuraim Abdulhamad, who were, on Thursday August 20, 2026 arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged cybercrime and peddling malicious information against the Commission.
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While the Commission considered the arraignment of the two defendants for cyber stalking to be contrary to Section 24(2) (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended) 2024 and punishable under Section 24 (2) (c) (ii) of the same Act, the Executive Chairman, nonetheless, considered the passionate pleas and apologies of Shehu’s father and appeals of well-meaning Nigerians for leniency.

To this end, he has directed that charges filed against the two young Nigerians be dropped and warned that the EFCC would no longer tolerate any wilful attack on its image in any form, medium or platform.

Ola Olukoyede

Ola Olukoyede

The EFCC’s boss assured Nigerians that the Commission would continue to function in line with its assigned mandate and in the best interests of the nation.
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President Tinubu Orders Immediate Arrest, Sacks Three Perm Secs as ICPC Uncovers New Fake Agency

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Tinubu

President Tinubu Orders Immediate Arrest, Sacks Three Perm Secs as ICPC Uncovers New Fake Agency

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of one George Buchi Nwabueze and the suspension of three permanent secretaries over the discovery of another fake agency operating within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
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They include M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah.

Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN disclosed this to State House correspondents on Friday after briefing the President for the second time in two days, following an earlier meeting on Thursday.

Aliyu said the newly uncovered fake office, operating under the name “National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office,” had been illegally allocated office space within the premises of the OSGF, contrary to extant laws and without presidential authorisation.

He said, “Upon further briefing by ICPC to Mr President on the ongoing investigations into the fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and procedural weaknesses in the public service, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has uncovered another fake agency and office operating under the name National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, which has been illegally allocated office space within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” Aliyu said.

He said the discovery emerged in the course of the commission’s broader investigation, as earlier directed by President Tinubu, and identified the promoter of the fake office as one Prince George Buchi Nwabueze, who was found to be operating under multiple aliases.

“The fake agency office, National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, was promoted by one George Buchi Nwabueze, with active suspected collaborators in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, contrary to extant laws and without authorisation of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He revealed that the ICPC had engaged the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to ascertain vital information relating to the fake office under investigation, and had comprehensively briefed the President on the new developments.

“I have briefed Mr President comprehensively on these new developments. ICPC will continue with its investigations accordingly,” he said.

Aliyu said following the discovery, “Mr President has directed as follows: the immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze; the immediate suspension of the following permanent secretaries; M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah,” he said.

Friday’s development is the latest in a scandal that began with the exposure of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, whose self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, is currently facing prosecution on charges of forgery and impersonation.

Tinubu

Tinubu

The ICPC’s interim report, submitted to the President on August 6 after a 30-day investigation, had earlier disclosed the existence of two other fictitious bodies, the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership.

The National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office is the fourth fake agency uncovered after the PFIFC scandal since early April.
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