Senate Backs Bill To Compel Facebook, TikTok, Others establishes Offices In Nigeria

The Senate on Thursday advanced legislative efforts to compel global social media companies operating in Nigeria to establish physical offices in the country, as stakeholders overwhelmingly backed the proposal during a public hearing in Abuja.
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The public hearing, organised by the Senate Committee on Information and Communications Technology and Cyber Security, also received broad support for a separate bill seeking to establish an Artificial Intelligence Academy in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The proposed legislation on social media platforms, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), seeks to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to mandate social media companies operating in Nigeria to maintain physical offices within the country’s territorial boundaries.

The AI Academy bill is sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South).

Declaring the hearing open, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, Senator Shuaib Salisu (Ogun Central), said the two bills were aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy and technological advancement.

According to him, while the social media bill seeks to improve the regulation and protection of Nigeria’s cyberspace, the proposed AI Academy is intended to serve as a centre of excellence for artificial intelligence education, research and innovation.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, represented by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru (Kwara South), described both proposals as forward-looking and nationally significant.

Akpabio said the bill requiring social media companies to establish physical offices in Nigeria was not intended to stifle their operations but to promote greater accountability and engagement with the country.

Also defending the bill, Nwoko dismissed concerns that the legislation could discourage investment or target technology companies.

He said: “This bill is neither punitive nor hostile to innovation. It is not designed to frustrate investment or discourage technology companies from operating in Nigeria.

“On the contrary, it seeks to deepen their engagement with Nigeria by encouraging them to become true corporate citizens of our country.”

“Around the world, major technology companies have established headquarters, regional offices, engineering centres and operational hubs in countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Singapore, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Brazil, Australia and Japan.”

Nwoko dismissed concerns that the proposed legislation was aimed at targeting or discouraging global technology companies, insisting that it was intended to strengthen their presence and engagement in Nigeria.

He said many countries, including the United Kingdom, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Brazil, had attracted global technology firms to establish local offices that support engineering, artificial intelligence research, regulatory compliance, customer support and other operations.

“These offices perform diverse functions ranging from engineering and artificial intelligence research to legal and regulatory compliance, public policy, advertising, trust and safety, cloud services, sales, customer support and product development.

“These countries did not attract such investments by accident. They recognised early that the digital economy is now as important as the traditional economy.

“By encouraging global technology companies to establish local operations, they have created employment, expanded tax revenues, strengthened regulatory engagement, promoted innovation and encouraged technology transfer to their citizens,” he said.

Citing Ireland as an example, Nwoko said the presence of companies such as Meta, Google, LinkedIn, TikTok and X had transformed the country into one of Europe’s leading technology hubs through job creation, innovation and increased foreign investment.

Senate

He argued that Nigeria, as Africa’s largest digital market, should enjoy similar economic and technological benefits.

“The question, therefore, is simple: if countries with significantly smaller populations and digital markets than Nigeria have secured these investments and benefits, why should Nigeria continue to stand on the sidelines? Why should Africa’s largest digital market not enjoy the same opportunities?”

The committee is expected to consider memoranda submitted by stakeholders before presenting its report to the Senate for further legislative action.
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Olukoyede To Lawyers Forum: Collaborate With EFCC In Fight Against Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has charged female lawyers in the country to join hands with the Commission in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.
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He gave the charge on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in a one-day training of members of Women Forum of the NBA, NBAWF, Abuja branch, with the theme: “Mastering SCUML Registration and AML/CFT Compliance Training for Legal Practitioners.”

Olukoyede, who was represented by the Deputy Commander of the EFCC, DCE, Samu Pascal, encouraged the female lawyers to consistently ensure the protection of the legal profession and national interest while fulfilling their duties as lawyers. In prioritizing the safety of the country, he urged them to guard against making themselves and their services available for money laundering and terrorist financing but rather utilize their platform to enhance the application of the framework for Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism, and Countering Proliferation Financing, AML/CFT/CPF in the country.

“Today’s engagement reflects the strong partnership between SCUML and the legal profession in strengthening Nigeria’s Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism, and Countering Proliferation Financing, AML/CFT/CPF, framework. As legal practitioners, your role extends beyond providing legal services. You also serve as gatekeepers of the financial system, helping to prevent the misuse of the legal services for money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation,” he said.

Olukoyede, who also disclosed that the training was aimed at improving lawyers’ comprehension of their responsibilities under the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2002, along with AML/CFT/CPF regulations, stated that training presented a valuable opportunity to tackle practical compliance issues, insights on emerging trends and typologies, and enhancing cooperation between the EFCC’s SCUML and the legal community.

“Your contributions will help us develop practical solutions that support compliance while maintaining the highest standards of professional ethics,” he said.

In her remarks, Hadiza Afegbua, leader of NBAWF, Abuja Chapter, expressed gratitude to the EFCC for providing the Forum members 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 in 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.

“I wish to express our sincere appreciation to the SCUML team for partnering with the NBA Women Forum, FCT Abuja Chapter, and for their willingness to share their expertise with us,” she said.

EFCC Boss

In her paper titled: “Lawyers, Compliance, and National Security: Understanding AML/CFT, Equipping Nigerian Legal Practitioners for Regulatory Excellence,” Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE 11 Korede Abdulaziz, urged the female lawyers to consistently recognize their responsibilities as gatekeepers and familiarize themselves with the 2022 AML/CFT legal framework.

She emphasized the importance of their consistent conduct of Customer Due Diligence, CDD and identifying Ultimate Beneficial Owners, UBO. She also highlighted the need for them to navigate the complexities of Legal Professional Privilege alongside reporting obligations and urged them to adopt a risk-based approach in their organizations.
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EFCC Arraigns Alhaji Muhammad Talake For Alleged N3.8m Property Fraud In Maiduguri

The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, July 23, 2026 arraigned one Alhaji Muhammad Talake before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri.
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The defendant was arraigned on a two- count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and criminal misappropriation to the tune of N3,800,000.00 (Three Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).

Count one reads: “That you, Alhaji Muhammad Talake, on or about March, 2025 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of the honourable court, with intent to defraud obtained the aggregate sum of N3,800,000.00 (Three Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) from one Muhammad Umar Ali Abatcha, under the false pretence that same is meant for the purchase of a property; ID:BO: 006, situated and laying at Old GRA, circular road, Maiduguri, Borno State, purportedly being a property put up for sale by the Federal Government of Nigeria, a representation which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.

Counsel to the prosecution, S.O Saka prayed for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a Correctional facility.

EFCC

Justice Kumaliya thereafter adjourned the matter till August 10, 2026 for hearing of bail application and ordered the remand of the defendant in Maiduguri maximum correctional facility.

The defendant’s journey to the Correctional facility started when he purportedly obtained the sum of N3.8m from a petitioner for the purchase of a property situated at Old Government Reservation Area, GRA, circular road, Maiduguri, Borno State, purportedly being a property put up for sale by the Federal Government of Nigeria, a representation which was false.
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