EFCC Warns Against Money Laundering for Politicians, Vows Jail Time for Offenders

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged Nigerians against permitting politicians to conceal money through their bank accounts or corporations.

The commission cautioned that anyone, whether friends, associates, or family members, who assists PEPs to utilize their bank accounts or enterprises to launder money will face jail time.

This was mentioned by Abdulkarim Chukko, interim Executive Chairman, during a one-day session on effective reporting of economic and financial crimes.

The session took place on Thursday at the EFCC Zonal Command Office, Iyaganku in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, and was attended by journalists from print, electronic, and internet media.

Chukkol,  who represented the Acting Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Command, Halima Mustapha Rufa’u, warned that politicians’ friends and family members would be imprisoned if their firms or bank accounts were used to launder earnings from criminal operations.

In his speech, Chukkol stated that under the Money Laundering Act of 2022, family members and close associates of politicians and public office holders, including top civil workers, are now classed as politically exposed individuals.

He said, “On this score, I would like the media to educate family members and friends of politicians and others holding political offices that they run the risk of going to jail if they allow their companies or bank accounts to be used to launder proceeds of illegal activities.

“Under the Money Laundering Act, 2022, family members and close allies of politicians and public office holders, including top civil servants, are now classified as politically exposed persons.”