The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has intensified its efforts to remove the country from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, which designates Nigeria as a high-risk jurisdiction for money laundering and terrorism financing.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the police have taken proactive steps by establishing specialised units such as the Special Anti-Fraud Unit (SFU), the National Cybercrime Centre, and the newly launched Anti-Money Laundering Unit.
“Collectively, these initiatives aim to enhance Nigeria’s compliance with international standards and facilitate the country’s removal from the FATF grey list,” Adejobi stated.
He disclosed that over the past year, these units have made significant progress in combating financial crimes, leading to the arrest of 1,088 suspects and securing 152 convictions. The force also recovered a total of $11,450,000 and ₦142,261,254,228.80 from financial crime-related cases.
The National Cybercrime Centre has been instrumental in tackling digital financial crimes, arresting 751 cybercrime suspects and recovering ₦8,821,001,881.80, $84,000, and 115,237.91 USDT. Among its notable achievements is Operation Butterfly Net, which targeted a cyberattack on Flutterwave and resulted in the arrest of 179 individuals involved in laundering over ₦11 billion.
Adejobi further noted that the establishment of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Sections has strengthened financial investigations, with over 2,000 officers trained in money laundering and terrorism financing investigations.
He highlighted that the police submit quarterly AML/CFT reports to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), which has significantly improved Nigeria’s ratings under the FATF regime.
“As we move forward, the Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its commitment to combating money laundering and terrorism financing, ensuring that Nigeria meets international requirements set by the FATF,” Adejobi said.
The police urged all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to collaborate in efforts to remove Nigeria from the FATF grey list.
“While the fight against financial crime is far from over, the progress made by the force in investigations, arrests, and prosecutions demonstrates the determination to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system and restore trust in our financial institutions,” he added.
Adejobi assured Nigerians and the international community that the NPF is taking all necessary steps to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.
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