June 24, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged civil society organizations (CSOs) in Borno State to strengthen their compliance with anti-money laundering regulations or risk facing sanctions.
The call was made during a one-day training workshop held in Maiduguri on Monday, aimed at equipping CSOs with the necessary knowledge to align their operations with national anti-corruption frameworks.
Delivering a paper on money laundering and compliance strategies, Baba Magaji Ibrahim, Assistant Commander II and Zonal Coordinator of the EFCC’s Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), emphasised the importance of adhering to regulatory requirements, mitigating risks, and reporting suspicious transactions.
He warned that the era of issuing repeated warnings was over, and that sanctions would be imposed on defaulting organizations.
“Let me say this: the EFCC has moved from merely warning or appealing to organizations to update their financial records. If your organization fails to comply with the regulations, sanctions will follow. Let us do the right thing,” Ibrahim cautioned.
In his welcome remarks, Bulama Abiso, Executive Director of the Network for Civil Society Organizations in Borno State, described the training as both timely and essential.
“This workshop is timely and necessary. As civil society actors, we are increasingly operating in an environment that demands not only a commitment to service, but also high standards of integrity, accountability, and compliance with financial regulations,” he said.
He stressed that understanding the risks associated with money laundering, along with the responsibility to report suspicious transactions, is crucial—not only for institutional sustainability but also for national security and public trust.
Abiso urged participants to take full advantage of the sessions to deepen their understanding, ask critical questions, and align their organisational practices with the nation’s anti-corruption policies.
