GIABA pledges more support for country's fight against corruption

The Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering and Terrorists Financing in West Africa (GIABA), on Wednesday expressed its readiness to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s ongoing fight against corruption.

GIABA’s Head of Information Centre in Nigeria, Mr Timothy Melaye, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, commended President Buhari’s current effort at fighting corruption.

GIABA is an institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) responsible for facilitating the adoption and implementation of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Financing of Terrorism in West Africa.Melaye said: ``The present Nigerian government of President Muhammadu Buhari has so far shown greater commitment to fighting against corruption, money laundering and terrorists financing.``GIABA is really ready to support the Nigerian government in its ongoing fight against corruption, money laundering and terrorists

He said that Nigeria had commenced her registration for membership of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and GIABA was giving Nigeria technical and other support to become a member of FATF.

The GIABA representative in Nigeria said that FATF was a global organisation meant to regulate operations against money laundering and terrorists financing. “We strongly believe that Nigeria’s registration as member of FATF would give more power to the Nigerian government in fighting against corruption, money laundering and terrorism financing.“Until now, it was only South Africa that had registered as member of FATF in the whole of Africa.``Nigeria is now the second African country also registering for FATF membership.``GIABA is giving Nigeria all its support technically and otherwise, in ensuring that Nigeria’s FATF membership interest and registration becomes a reality

Melaye also announced his organisation’s readiness to increase its training programmes for officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

He said that GIABA would also be sustaining its training programmes for officials of the Directorate for State Security (DSS) and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

Melaye said that the training would assist them in asset recovery, asset forfeiture, tracking and monitoring of stolen funds, money laundering and terrorists financing activities in the country.