Kano, Nigeria – The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has called on Nigerian lawyers to take the lead in safeguarding the nation’s financial system against money laundering, terrorism financing, and illicit financial flows.
Speaking in Kano through his representative, Barrister Bentex Torlafia, at a Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshop on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Compliance, he emphasized that law firms must not be allowed to serve as conduits for financial crime.
“Let us make it impossible for law firms in Nigeria to be used as safe havens for illicit financial activities. Let us strengthen the walls of integrity around our profession,” he declared.
The NBA President described the workshop as a defining moment for the legal profession, stressing that participants would return as in-house trainers to multiply knowledge across NBA branches nationwide.
A key highlight of the event was the unveiling of the NBA Anti-Money Laundering Portal to lawyers, which the NBA President describes as the first-of-its-kind self-regulatory tool in Nigeria’s legal sector. The portal will enable lawyers and law firms to file suspicious transaction reports, maintain transparent records, and shield their practices from being exploited by criminals.
“This is not just a technical tool—it is a symbol of our commitment to transparency, accountability, and ethical practice,” he said.
Nigeria on the FATF Grey List
Mr. Afam Osigwe also reminded participants that Nigeria remains on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, a status that signals weak financial safeguards and discourages foreign investment.
“The role of the legal profession in reversing this narrative cannot be overstated. By ensuring compliance and promoting transparency, we can help Nigeria exit the grey list,” he added.
He commended the African Center for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development, as well as the NBA Anti-Money Laundering Committee, for their support in developing the AML Portal and strengthening compliance frameworks. He noted that the African Center had previously conducted a legal sector risk assessment in 2024 and supported the rollout of a supervision toolkit in 2025.
“The Centre’s expertise has greatly enhanced the quality of this initiative, and we deeply value their contribution,” Osigwe said.
The African Center, through its UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)-funded project, “Tackling Illicit Financial Flows through Asset Recovery, Management, and Strengthening ML/CFT/PF Compliance in Nigeria,” convened the one-day workshop in collaboration with NBA-AMLC.
The training brought together NBA representatives from nine branches across Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Katsina States, alongside compliance officers and practising lawyers. Participants were trained on risk-based approaches to AML/CFT compliance and the practical use of the NBA AML Portal.
According to the Anti-Corruption organization, the workshop aims to:
- Equip attendees as knowledge multipliers to cascade training within their branches.
- Strengthen Nigeria’s compliance culture in line with FATF, GIABA, and other international benchmarks;
- Support the NBA’s broader roadmap to reinforce professional self-regulation and restore global confidence in Nigeria’s financial system.
PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT: 
