EFCC Tells Real Estate Operators How To Avoid Getting Roped Into Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has charged real estate operators in Lagos to ensure due diligence on their customers as a way of checking the menace of money laundering and terrorist financing in the country.

The Lagos Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Michael T. Wetkas, gave the charge today, June 27, 2023, in his address to participants at a sensitisation workshop on Anti-Money Laundering, Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing, AML/CFT/CPF organized by the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML at the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC, Ikoyi.

He said “Registration with SCUML has become necessary as a way of monitoring and reducing the risk of subversive use of the real estate operators by money launderers and terrorism financiers”.

Wetkas urged the Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions, DNFBPs, to conduct due diligence and adhere to the principle of Know Your Customers, KYC, before consummating any transaction.

Also, in his remarks, the Coordinator, SCUML, Lagos, Paschal Samu, said the workshop was designed to enlighten the real estate operators on their roles in complying with Money Laundering Act, 2022.

He assured the participants that the EFCC would continue to engage the stakeholders through sustained enlightenment activities on the need for DNFBPs to key into the activities of SCUML.

In her presentation on “Anti-Money Laundering Policy, Controls and Procedures”, ACE Korede Abdul-Aziz enlightened the participants on how to identify and report suspicious transactions, warning that failure to report such activities or transactions would attract sanctions or penalties.

She urged the operators to build the capacity of their staff and appoint Compliance Officers in line with provisions of the Money Laundering Act, 2022.

Akintoye Adeoye, the Vice President, Real Estate Developers of Nigeria, REDAN, applauded the SCUML for its continuous efforts in sensitising the public on the menace of money laundering.

He also expressed readiness to spread the message to other developers