The International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has revealed that “hundreds of thousands of dollars” are being laundered out of Nigeria every hour, reaching other African countries and locations worldwide.
INTERPOL Vice President for Africa, Garba Baba Umar, made this disclosure at the EFCC Academy in Abuja while inaugurating a four-day workshop for Nigerian law enforcement agencies.
He emphasized the monstrous scale of money laundering across Africa and the globe, calling for enhanced collaboration among security agencies to combat the menace.
To tackle the scourge of money laundering and illicit financial flows, Umar announced the launch of “Silver Notices Against Money Laundering.”
This initiative aims to make it significantly more challenging for criminals to launder illicit funds worldwide, especially within Africa.
“Evidence has shown that every hour, hundreds of thousands of dollars are flowing out of Nigeria to the region and across the world, laundered before it reaches the pockets of criminals to enjoy the profits of their crimes, while the hardworking and honest Nigerians pay the price of crime,” Umar stated.
The workshop, themed “Strengthening Capacity and Coordination against Financial Crimes,” aims to reassess current strategies and reaffirm the commitment to providing security.
Umar stressed the importance of regular training for law enforcement to stay ahead of transnational financial crimes.
The Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, represented by Francis Usani, Director of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, highlighted the necessity of collaboration in fighting corruption.
Olukoyede emphasized that the complex nature of global corruption can only be addressed through the collective efforts of all stakeholders.
Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Kazuyoshi Matsunaga, praised the workshop as a crucial joint initiative between Japan and Nigeria to combat financial crimes.
He stressed the importance of international cooperation in addressing financial crimes that transcend borders.
The Director-General of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Hafsat Bakare, underscored the significance of financial intelligence and analysis techniques in tackling economic crimes.
She noted the interconnected nature of the criminal justice system and the threats posed by organized cybercrimes.
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