- Over 300 lawyers trained on ethical conduct to curb financial crimes
The European Union (EU), the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have joined efforts to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and the proliferation of small arms in Nigeria.
As part of this initiative, over 300 legal practitioners participated in a two-day sensitization workshop on professional ethics in Abuja, aimed at strengthening legal compliance and ensuring Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list of high-risk countries.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Emmanuel Uche, Anti-Corruption Programme Manager for the EU-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC-Phase II), emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria to address financial risks.
“The last risk assessment identified Nigeria as a high-risk country for money laundering and terrorism financing. Without corrective measures, international confidence in Nigeria’s financial system remains low,” Uche said.
He highlighted the negative impact of this classification, including restrictions on Nigerian financial transactions and limited international acceptance of local financial instruments.
NBA President, Mr. Afam Osigwe, stressed the role of lawyers in maintaining ethical standards. “Even one lawyer violating professional conduct is a concern. We must instill public confidence by ensuring strict adherence to ethical rules and taking disciplinary action against offenders,” Osigwe stated.
Danladi Plang, Head of Programme for RoLAC II at International IDEA, underscored the critical role of legal professionals in upholding the rule of law and democratic governance. “Lawyers are essential to legal and societal reforms. However, misconduct such as fraud, deceit, and exploitation of legal loopholes threatens the profession’s integrity and must be addressed,” he said.
The sensitization event, which served as a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop, brought together representatives from all 130 NBA branches, including branch chairpersons and Young Lawyers’ Forum leaders. The initiative seeks to foster transparency, accountability, and ethical discipline within Nigeria’s legal community as part of broader anti-corruption reforms.
