Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has reinforced its strategic partnership with INTERPOL as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the global fight against money laundering, terrorism financing and other forms of transnational financial crime.
The renewed commitment was demonstrated during a high-level bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the ongoing Egmont Group Plenary in Baku, where the NFIU delegation, led by its Chief Executive Officer and Director, Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, met with senior INTERPOL officials to discuss deeper collaboration in combating illicit financial flows.
The INTERPOL delegation was led by Tomonobu Kaya, Director of the International Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC), alongside Hamza Saracoglu of INTERPOL’s Counter Terrorism Directorate.
Discussions focused on expanding cooperation in tackling illicit financing, money laundering, terrorism financing and other complex financial crimes that increasingly transcend national borders. Both institutions also explored practical measures to enhance intelligence sharing, strengthen operational collaboration and promote capacity building to improve the effectiveness of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) frameworks.
The meeting highlighted the importance of closer cooperation between Financial Intelligence Units and international law enforcement agencies in disrupting criminal networks that exploit the global financial system to finance organised crime, terrorism, corruption and other illicit activities.
The engagement also underscored the shared commitment of both organisations to improving the timely exchange of financial intelligence, enhancing cross-border investigations and leveraging technology and international best practices to detect, prevent and prosecute financial crimes.
The NFIU noted that stronger collaboration with INTERPOL will further enhance Nigeria’s capacity to investigate and disrupt illicit financial transactions while supporting global efforts to protect the integrity of the international financial system.
The bilateral engagement reflects the NFIU’s continued commitment to fostering strategic international partnerships through active participation in global platforms such as the Egmont Group, while working closely with international stakeholders to strengthen financial intelligence, improve compliance with international AML/CFT standards and safeguard the integrity of both Nigeria’s financial sector and the global financial architecture.
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