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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Police, NFIU partner to combat money laundering, terrorism financing

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • The Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit agreed to strengthen collaboration against financial crimes.
  • The partnership aims to enhance information sharing and operational synergy to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.
  • The collaboration is crucial for Nigeria's national security and upcoming international evaluations.

Nigeria's Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has pledged enhanced collaboration with the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and other financial crimes. This commitment was made during a meeting with the Director and CEO of the NFIU, Hafsat Bakari, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The partnership between the NFIU and the police is critical to Nigeria’s national security architecture.

— Hafsat BakariHighlighting the importance of the collaboration for national security.

The visit focused on strengthening operational synergy and institutionalizing strategic collaboration between the two agencies. Bakari emphasized the critical role of the partnership in Nigeria's national security architecture, noting that the effectiveness of police utilization of NFIU financial intelligence will be assessed in the upcoming 2027 Mutual Evaluation.

Bakari highlighted that this evaluation will critically examine how the police dismantle money laundering networks, counter terrorism financing, and secure convictions for related financial crimes. She commended the Inspector-General for approving a joint stock-taking exercise and called for deeper institutional cooperation. Bakari also advocated for expanding Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) awareness programs to police commands nationwide.

The forthcoming 2027 Mutual Evaluation will critically assess how effectively the Police utilises NFIU financial intelligence to dismantle money laundering networks, counter terrorism financing, and secure prosecutions in related financial crimes.

— Hafsat BakariExplaining the significance of the upcoming international evaluation.

Inspector-General Disu acknowledged the technical nature of anti-money laundering investigations and requested sustained advanced training for specialized police personnel. He stressed the importance of continuous access to actionable financial intelligence and modern investigative tools to improve investigation quality and increase conviction rates. The police force reaffirmed its commitment to working with strategic partners like the NFIU to enhance operational capacity and safeguard national security.

The Force’s specialised Anti-Money Laundering Unit and other operational divisions play key roles in investigating financial crimes, terrorism financing, banditry and other transnational offences.

— Olatunji DisuDescribing the role of the police in combating financial crimes.

The collaboration is seen as vital for Nigeria to meet international standards and effectively tackle sophisticated financial crimes that threaten national security.

The IGP described anti-money laundering investigations as highly technical and urged the NFIU to sustain advanced training for specialised police personnel.

— Olatunji DisuRequesting continued training support from the NFIU.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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