NFIU clinches global anti-money laundering award, puts Nigeria on world stage

The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, has won the prestigious United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC-World Bank-Egmont Group Stolen Asset Recovery, StAR, Initiative Award, earning global recognition for Nigeria’s growing leadership in the fight against money laundering and illicit financial flows.

The award was presented at the 32nd Egmont Group Plenary of Heads of Financial Intelligence Units in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the NFIU was honoured for an outstanding collaborative investigation with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

According to the organisers, the award recognises how timely financial intelligence, effective inter-agency cooperation and international collaboration contributed to successful investigations, recovery of stolen assets and the disruption of illicit financial networks.

The recognition marks a major milestone for the NFIU and reinforces Nigeria’s increasing profile as a trusted partner in the global campaign against money laundering, terrorism financing and other transnational financial crimes.

Reacting to the award, the Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, described the honour as a proud moment for the country and a validation of the agency’s professionalism and effectiveness.

“This is a proud moment for Nigeria and a powerful affirmation of the quality, professionalism and impact of our financial intelligence architecture,” Mrs Bakari said.

She praised the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, and officers of the Commission for their commitment to collaboration and operational excellence, noting that the award reflected the success of intelligence-driven cooperation among Nigeria’s anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies.

Mrs Bakari said the recognition underscored the impact of robust financial intelligence in tracking illicit funds, supporting complex investigations and recovering stolen assets, adding that it also demonstrated the importance of close cooperation among domestic institutions and international partners.

She reaffirmed the NFIU’s commitment to deepening partnerships, deploying innovative intelligence tools and strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to combat increasingly sophisticated financial crimes.

The StAR Initiative is a joint programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Bank that supports countries in tracing and recovering proceeds of corruption and other illicit assets.

The Egmont Group is a global network of Financial Intelligence Units that facilitates international cooperation and information sharing in the fight against money laundering, terrorism financing and related financial crimes.