Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede has charged dealers in precious stones and
metals in the country to uphold integrity and eschew corrupt practices in the
conduct of their businesses.
He gave the charge in Abuja at a “Two-day National Workshop
on “Sensitization of Dealers in Precious Metals and Stone,” organized by the
Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, held between
December 11 and 12, 2023.
Olukoyede, who was represented by Daniel Isei, Director ,
SCUML, told participants that the essence of the sensitization programme
was to update them on their compliance obligations and the control measures
they should put in place to reduce risk in their businesses. The Chairman
disclosed that multiple assessments show that precious metals and stones
businesses have a high risk of exposure to money laundering activities.
Head of Programme, Rule of Law and Anti-corruption, RoLAC,
Danladi Plang who was represented by Dala Pwanakei, emphasized the importance
of observance of rule of law in all the activities of dealers in precious
stones and metals. He noted that the workshop was timely and imperative for the
participants to enable them to be in tune with trends in the industry “as any
illegality in the conduct of their businesses will negatively affect them and
the country”. Plang appreciated SCUML for its continued collaboration with
RoLAC and called for more rewarding engagements in the future.
The workshop featured lectures including: “An Overview of the
Relevant International Standards on AML/CFT/CPF as relates to Dealers in
Precious Metals and Stones", by Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE
I Ibinabo Mary Amachree; “An overview of the Nigerian AML/CFT/CPF Regime and
the Compliance Obligations of Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones” by
ACE I Korede Abul-Aziz while ACE I Kazeem Oseni spoke on “Implementation
of EFCC Administrative Sanction Regime for Dealers in Precious Metals and
Stones.”
The workshop drew participants from members of Jewelry
Marketers Association of Nigeria, JEMA; Precious Metal Gold Processors and
Exporters Association, PMGPEA, and representatives of Nigerian Union of Mines
Workers, NUMW from Niger, Nasarawa and Plateau states, who were presented
with certificates. It was sponsored by the European Union, EU and International
Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, IDEA.
Source: EFCC
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