President Muhammadu Buhari has signed three bills into law. The bills are the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2022, the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2022, and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Bill, 2022.
According to a statement signed by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the pieces of legislation are meant to improve the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing/proliferation financing framework in the country.
The statement was titled, ‘In the renewed fight against money laundering, terrorism and other financial crimes, President Buhari signs three bills into law.’
Speaking at a signing ceremony at the Council Chamber, State House, the President said, “The new laws have provided enough punitive measures and containment strategies against abuses and compromises.
“We will not rest until we rid the nation of the menace of money laundering, terrorism, and other financial crimes.
“The signing of these bills into law today not only strengthens the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework in the country but addresses the deficiencies identified in Nigeria’s 2nd round of Mutual Evaluation as assessed by Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa on compliance with the Financial Action Task Force global standards.
“Accordingly, the repeal of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and enactment of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 provides comprehensive legal and Institutional Framework for the prevention and prohibition of money laundering in Nigeria and confers on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the legal status of the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering.”
