The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has urged judges to take a leading role in the fight against financial crimes and ensure that the nation’s legal system does not become a facilitator of illicit financial flows.
She made this call in Abuja during a sensitisation programme on anti-money laundering, combating the financing terrorism, and countering proliferation financing risk assessment for the Judiciary.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Friday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the CJN, Tobi Soniyi.
According to the statement, Kekere-Ekun emphasized the need for collaboration between the judiciary, lawyers, law enforcement, and anti-graft agencies to ensure Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force list of Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring, commonly referred to as the “Grey List.”
She stated, “The success of any AML/CFT regime hinges on synergy among key stakeholders. The Judiciary, the Nigerian Bar Association, law enforcement agencies, anti-graft institutions, and financial regulators must work in concert to ensure a holistic and coordinated response to financial crimes.”
The CJN highlighted the negative impact of Nigeria’s continued presence on the Grey List, noting that it has imposed significant economic constraints, undermining investor confidence, financial transactions, and the broader economic outlook.
She remarked, “The anticipated delisting from this category is not merely a symbolic achievement but a tangible milestone with far-reaching economic and reputational benefits. It will signal our commitment to financial transparency and integrity while restoring Nigeria’s standing in the global financial community.”
Kekere-Ekun expressed satisfaction with the workshop’s diverse participation, including key regulatory stakeholders, which she described as a reflection of the collective commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s AML/CFT framework.
The Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Justice Salisu Abdullahi, noted that the sensitization programme for judges was designed to bolster the federal government’s resolve to ensure Nigeria’s removal from the FATF Grey List.
He explained that the workshop aligns with the NJI’s mandate to promote efficiency, uniformity, and improvement in the quality of judicial services through continuous education for judicial officers.
Earlier, the Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mrs. Gill Lever, reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in combating money laundering. She revealed that Nigeria loses over $16 billion annually to money laundering.
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