In a significant move to bolster Nigeria's fight against financial crime, more than 1,000 aspiring lawyers across the country have received specialized training in Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).
The intensive one-day workshop took place on Friday, November 22, 2025, at the Nigerian Law School headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, with students from other campuses participating through virtual platforms.
Strengthening Nigeria's Financial Defences
The programme was organized by the Nigerian Bar Association Anti-Money Laundering Committee (NBA-AMLC) in collaboration with the African Centre for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development.
This initiative forms part of a broader project supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) titled "Tackling Illicit Financial Flows through Asset Recovery, Management, and Strengthening ML/CFT/PF Compliance in Nigeria."
Essential Skills for Future Legal Practitioners
Esa Okibe Onoja, a member of the NBA-AMLC, opened the session by educating participants about money laundering risk indicators and the critical responsibilities legal professionals bear under Nigeria's AML/CFT framework.
"Young lawyers must cultivate integrity, due diligence, and ethical vigilance from the very beginning of their careers," Onoja emphasized, highlighting the growing global expectation for lawyers to serve as frontline gatekeepers within the financial system.
During the technical lecture, Ernest Ojukwu, SAN, Co-Chair of the NBA-AMLC, provided an in-depth analysis of global money laundering dynamics. He explained the three fundamental stages of money laundering:
- Placement
- Layering
- Integration
Ojukwu used practical case studies, including the "Art Dealer's Trail," to illustrate these concepts. He detailed Nigeria's regulatory framework, referencing the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Practical Compliance and Ethical Responsibilities
The training covered essential compliance procedures that future lawyers will need to implement, including:
- Customer Due Diligence and Know-Your-Customer protocols
- Record-keeping requirements
- Suspicious transaction reporting
- Sanctions list screening
- Client-account management
Ojukwu introduced participants to the NBA's AML/CFT Guidelines & Protocols and conducted scenario-based ethical exercises to demonstrate practical compliance steps.
"A lawyer who understands and applies AML/CFT obligations protects their clients, their practice, and the integrity of the justice system," Ojukwu stated.
In his goodwill message, Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, praised the initiative, describing the training as both timely and indispensable for grooming ethically grounded lawyers.
He noted that AML/CFT competence is increasingly essential in modern legal practice.
The African Centre reaffirmed that the workshop strengthens Nigeria's efforts to curb illicit financial flows and align with global standards, while the NBA-AMLC committed to continued sector-wide supervision and capacity building.
Participants described the programme as "timely" and "eye-opening," with many pledging to cascade the knowledge and uphold ethical best practices in their future workplaces.
