By Nkechi Eze
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has called on Nigerian lawyers to strengthen due diligence on clients and prioritise ethical compliance in line with newly amended anti-money laundering regulations.
In an official signed statement, the Commission’s Spokesperson, Okor Odey, disclosed that Dr. Aliyu made the remarks during a professional development seminar organised by the Kano State Chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in the ancient city of Kano.
Addressing legal practitioners, Dr. Aliyu stressed the importance of recent amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC), noting that the updated provisions now expressly mandate lawyers to report suspicious transactions and to adopt preventive measures designed to ensure the profession is not exploited for terrorism financing, money laundering, or other financial crimes. He described these changes as necessary safeguards to protect both national security and the integrity of the legal profession.
The seminar, themed “New Anti-Money Laundering Obligations for Legal Practitioners: Implications for Ethical Law Practice and the ICPC’s Mandate,” provided participants with deeper insight into the ethical and regulatory implications of the evolving anti-money laundering framework.
Dr. Aliyu urged lawyers to demonstrate heightened vigilance when onboarding clients, especially public officials or individuals operating in regions prone to insecurity. He cautioned that wealth from such sources may be linked to criminal activity, making careful scrutiny indispensable.
“Lawyers must be observant and analyse their clients very well before engagement,” he warned, identifying high-risk areas such as property acquisitions and company incorporations where enhanced due diligence is vital.
The ICPC Chairman further advocated strong inter-agency collaboration to drive nationwide sensitisation for the legal community. He called on the ICPC, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to jointly coordinate a unified awareness programme that would ensure consistent compliance across the profession, reinforce public trust, and fortify Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework.
