North Central NBA branches participate in anti-money laundering training
The African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development, in partnership with the Nigerian Bar Association Anti-Money Laundering Committee (NBA AMLC), is supporting efforts to strengthen anti-money laundering compliance within Nigeria’s legal profession through a targeted capacity-building initiative. At a one-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at NBA […]
The African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development, in partnership with the Nigerian Bar Association Anti-Money Laundering Committee (NBA AMLC), is supporting efforts to strengthen anti-money laundering compliance within Nigeria’s legal profession through a targeted capacity-building initiative.
At a one-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at NBA House in Abuja, about 34 lawyers nominated from NBA branches across the North Central region were equipped with practical knowledge and tools to deepen Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) compliance and expand reporting through the NBA AMLC Suspicious Transaction Reporting (STR) Portal.
The workshop, which forms part of broader efforts aimed at preventing illicit financial flows, brought together participants from Abuja, Keffi, Kabba, Ankpa, Gwagwalada, Bwari, Idah, Minna, Nyanya-Karu, Suleja, Pankshin, Jos, Shendam, Bukuru, Gboko, Makurdi, Okene, and Lokoja, as well as a representative of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).
Delivering the welcome address, Co-Chairman of the NBA AMLC, Mr. Babajide Ogundipe, commended the African Center for what he described as its consistent technical support to the legal sector. He stressed that strengthening compliance culture among lawyers remains critical to safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system.
Also speaking, a goodwill message from a representative of the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), delivered by Mr. Anicetus Atakpu, highlighted the strategic importance of sustained vigilance within the legal profession.
He noted that although Nigeria’s recent exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list marked significant progress, maintaining robust compliance practices, particularly at branch and firm levels, would be essential to preserving those gains.
The Executive Director of the African Center, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, represented at the event by Mrs. Nnaobi-Ayodele, reiterated that the Training of Trainers model was designed to build durable, practice-oriented capacity across NBA branches nationwide.
In his keynote address, NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, reminded lawyers of their statutory “gatekeeper” responsibility in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.
He warned practitioners against relying on client instructions as a shield for non-compliance and urged the profession to strengthen Know-Your-Client (KYC) procedures, improve red-flag detection, and fully comply with reporting obligations. According to him, the ToT framework is expected to create a multiplier effect, enabling trained representatives to cascade AML/CFT knowledge across branches and embed compliance more firmly within legal practice.
The technical sessions, led by subject-matter experts, covered global and regional AML/CFT frameworks, obligations under the Rules of Professional Conduct (2023), risk-based supervision, customer due diligence requirements, STR/SAR reporting processes, and hands-on navigation of the NBA AMLC Portal.
Facilitators consistently emphasized that AML/CFT compliance is both a regulatory requirement and a professional risk-management tool that protects lawyers, their firms, and the broader financial ecosystem.
At the close of the workshop, participants reported improved understanding of their compliance obligations and pledged to conduct step-down trainings within their respective branches.
Organisers expressed confidence that the initiative would significantly deepen awareness of money laundering and terrorism financing risks within the legal profession.
The African Center and the NBA AMLC affirmed their commitment to providing continued technical support to NBA branches as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s AML/CFT architecture.