Nigeria has received one of the highest international honours in the fight against financial crime, with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) jointly winning the UNODC World Bank Egmont Group Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative Award.
The award was presented during the 32nd Egmont Group Plenary of Heads of Financial Intelligence Units in Baku, Azerbaijan, recognising an outstanding case that demonstrated innovation, operational effectiveness, international cooperation and measurable impact in tackling money laundering and other serious financial crimes.
According to the organisers, the award-winning case showed how financial intelligence generated by the NFIU supported an EFCC investigation that led to the successful recovery of stolen assets through strong collaboration between Nigerian institutions and international partners.
Reacting to the honour, NFIU Chief Executive Officer, Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, described it as a proud milestone for Nigeria and a strong endorsement of the country's financial intelligence system. She said the recognition reflects the professionalism of the NFIU and highlights the power of intelligence-led investigations in disrupting illicit financial networks, recovering stolen assets and supporting global efforts to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
Bakari commended EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, and officers of the Commission for their commitment to inter-agency collaboration. She also praised NFIU staff, reporting entities and other stakeholders whose timely financial reports and continued support contributed to the achievement.
The award is presented under the Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative, involving the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Bank and the Egmont Group, whose network of Financial Intelligence Units from more than 180 jurisdictions serves as the world's leading platform for the secure exchange of financial intelligence to combat money laundering, terrorism financing and related financial crimes.
The recognition further underscores Nigeria's continued efforts to strengthen its anti-money laundering framework, enhance compliance with international standards and reinforce global confidence in the country's ability to generate actionable financial intelligence and deliver effective enforcement outcomes.
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