Tunde Bakare
The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has pointed out that the Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing section of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) will greatly complement the NPF’s efforts in fighting insecurity in Nigeria.
He stated this during the Training workshop on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing for Frontline Officers and Prosecutors held at the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan International Peacekeeping Center, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The Minister, whose speech was read by the Director, Police Services, Ministry of Police Affairs, Mr. Ibrahim Muhammed, stated that the workshop will present a valuable opportunity to enhance their skills and share expertise on how to tackle these bedbugs, called Money laundering and terrorism financing.
He said, “The Frontline officers and prosecutors will play a vital role in disrupting financial crimes and terrorism financing networks. This workshop will equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and best practices to tackle these complex challenges. As the Honourable Minister of Police Affairs, I want to assure the Inspector-General of Police and all officers present that I will continue to support initiatives that would strengthen our nation’s security and justice system”.
Gaidam urged the recently established special section entitled, “Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Section of the NPF” to seize the opportunity to utilized the data from the Crime and Incidence Database, the upcoming Criminal Data Fusion Center and the West African Police Information System database all at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters to boost their operation.
The Minister commended the initiative of the Inspector-General of Police in creating the section of the NPF because Money laundering and terrorism financing pose significant threats to national security by undermining financial systems, enabling organized crimes, and providing resources for terrorist activities.
These illicit activities can destabilize economies, erode public trust, and create an environment conducive to violence and instability. He stressed.
Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC) advised the officers not to misuse their power of investigation and avoid getting involved in land matter issues, adding that the commission is ready to discipline any erring officers according to extant law.
He urged the officers to imbibe the international best practices as the challenges of investigating and prosecuting a case need commitment, facts, and adherence to truth.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Training and Development), DIG Frank Mba pointed out that Nigeria continues to grapple with twin trends of money laundering and terrorism financing through complex crimes that not only weaken the economic foundations but also tarnish the international reputation of the country.
According to him, “to address this, the Federal Government has undertaken commendable steps by establishing specialized agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC). These institutions form the backbone of the institutional response to financial crimes and terrorism.”