Crime
Interpol Launches Silver Notices Against Money Laundering
In the bid to frontally tackle the scourge of money laundering and illicit financial flows across the world, especially in Africa, the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL), has launched a new module codenamed Silver Notices.
This disclosure was made in Abuja on Monday, July 29, 2024, by the Interpol Vice President for Africa, Garba Baba Umar, while declaring open a four-day Training Workshop for Nigerian law enforcement agencies at the EFCC Academy, Abuja.
According to Umar, money laundering across Africa and the entire world has assumed a monstrous dimension and Interpol has designed Silver Notices to combat the menace.
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He said, “Evidence has shown that every hour, hundreds of thousands of dollars are flowing out of Nigeria to the region and across the world, laundered before it reaches the pockets of criminals to enjoy the profits of their crimes, while the hardworking and honest Nigerians pay the price of crime.
“With every successful laundering of criminal money, our country becomes more prone to crime. More drugs, more fraud, more corruption and more violence. Every time criminal money is successfully laundered, our financial institutions take an additional blow…”.
He stressed that hard times awaited money launderers as the Silver Notices would make illicit funds more difficult to launder in any part of the world.
Speaking on the theme of the Workshop: Strengthening Capacity and Coordination against Financial Crimes, Umar pointed out that financial crimes had become transnational and law enforcement agencies needed regular training for their workforce to be ahead of fraudsters
He urged participants at the Workshop to make it a duty to discuss and learn about transnational crimes affecting their regions and identify possible solutions through a review of policing capabilities to support the country and facilitate direct and in-person interaction amongst law enforcement networks across the country.
“In essence, this Workshop will give us the opportunity to re-examine the challenges of fighting transnational crimes in the country, reassess our strategies, and reaffirm our determination and unity as a country to provide security to our citizens and by extension the global community”, he said.
Umar charged all participants at the Workshop to take collaboration with other law enforcement agencies seriously to advance their investigations and ensure that criminals do not get to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
“The only way we can move forward as a country is by working together and identifying common problems, jointly devising solutions, and taking coordinated and cohesive action. And now is the time that we need to go far, by going together”, he said.
Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede in goodwill message, also harped on the need for enhanced collaboration in tackling financial crimes.
He particularly stressed that the complex nature of corruption across the world could only be broken by the might of collaborative actions by every stakeholder.
“The daunting nature of the fight against corruption in Nigeria and the world at large deserve serious collaboration among organizations saddled with the responsibility of fighting corruption”, he said.
Olukoyede, who spoke through the Director, Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, FRAC, of the EFCC, Francis Usani, appraised the pivotal role of the EFCC in tackling corrupt practices, especially its impressive records of convictions and recoveries and expressed optimism that, with the new emphasis on the preventive framework in tackling financial crimes by the Commission, greater progress would be made.
“…Our records of convictions and recoveries stand us out, but we will not rest on our oars, we are committed to doing more and in this commitment, the EFCC is re-strategising its operations with a focus on prevention knowing that it is easier and cheaper to prevent corruption from happening than investigating and prosecuting corruption”, he said.
In his remarks, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Nigeria, Kazuyoshi Matsunaga, described the workshop as an important joint initiative between Japan and Nigeria to combat financial crimes.
He explained that in the contemporary globalized world, financial crimes transcended borders and required international cooperation among law enforcement agencies to combat them.
“I am delighted that INTERPOL and the Japanese National Police Agency are an integral part of this project, contributing their expertise. A remarkable collaboration took place three years ago when Japanese and Nigerian law enforcement agencies successfully returned a fund to a Japanese fraud victim, earning immense gratitude. Strengthening our partnership through this project will benefit not only Nigerians but people around the world, including the Japanese”, he said.
Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Hafsat Bakare, spoke about the imperative of strengthening capacity and coordination against financial crimes, pointing out that “financial intelligence and financial analysis techniques are key to tackling economic crimes.”
The NFIU, she said, was sensitive to the interconnected nature of the criminal justice system, the threat of organized crime and cybercrimes being fought by law enforcement agencies.
She expressed optimism that the training law enforcement officers would receive at the Workshop would “sustain efforts being made to ensure that Nigeria exit the Grey List of the Financial Action Task Force possibly by mid-2025”
Director, Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC), Isaac Kehinde Oginni, said the only way to disrupt organised crimes was by denying fraudsters the financial profit behind their criminal enterprise.
Besides, financial intelligence could also be utilized well when investigators recognise its value and use it to build a financial profile around suspects.
He challenged participants and stakeholders at the Workshop to collectively work together and fight money laundering. “Each agency represents a different shape of the puzzle with our different strengths and mandates. Each piece of the puzzle forms part of the bigger picture, and even one missing piece will prevent the whole picture from being developed,” he said.
“Today, we will commence the first phase of the Interpol/JICA workshop, a capacity-building project that aims to strengthen Nigeria’s safety through enhancing law enforcement’s capacity to combat financial crime, as well as through increased national cross-agency collaboration and cooperation,” he said.
The four-day Workshop, first of its kind and hosted by the EFCC, was organized by INTERPOL and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA. It drew participants from the Police, EFCC, NFIU, Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Customs Service. It will end on Thursday, August 1, 2024.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly reversed its earlier position on the ongoing trial of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, directing its prosecuting counsel to resume the case.
The development comes after the security agency had earlier directed its lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, to seek the suspension of the proceedings until after the 2027 presidential election.
According to a reports, the DSS has now changed its position and instructed its counsel to continue with the prosecution.
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The reported reversal comes amid Sowore’s continued criticism of President Bola Tinubu and his political activities ahead of the 2027 general election.
Sowore is being prosecuted over social media posts in which he referred to Tinubu as a “criminal.”
He has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The case is before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The DSS had previously sought to suspend the proceedings, with the agency’s counsel indicating that the move was intended to allow political candidates facing similar cases to participate in electioneering activities without ongoing trials becoming a hindrance.
Sowore, however, subsequently called for the withdrawal of the charges rather than their suspension.
The latest development comes shortly after Sowore returned to Nigeria from the United States, where he had spent time with his family.
His return has also coincided with renewed political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election, in which he is expected to contest under the AAC.
The Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Echuseh Audu, is facing fresh questions over financial transactions involving accounts associated with her and Katuka’s Kitchen, a registered business name linked to her.
Financial records reportedly obtained in connection with the allegations show several transactions involving accounts associated with Audu and the business, including payments totalling ₦44 million to Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja.
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According to the records, ₦12,190,726.80 was transferred on October 28, 2025, from the Taraba State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES) Draw Down Account at Zenith Bank to an account belonging to Katuka’s Kitchen.
The same amount was subsequently transferred back to the LPRES Draw Down Account, according to the records.
Other transactions reportedly involving Katuka’s Kitchen and accounts associated with Audu included ₦15 million transferred in May 2024, ₦7 million in August 2024, ₦5.25 million in January 2026 and ₦5,000,020 in February 2026.
The recorded inflows reportedly amounted to ₦49,440,746.80.
The records also showed three payments to Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja — ₦15 million on February 20, 2026, ₦14 million on February 26, and another ₦15 million whose transaction date was not indicated.
The three payments totalled ₦44 million.
Sources close to Audu reportedly said the hospital confirmed that the payments were for a young girl who had died.
Questions have also been raised about the relationship between Audu and Katuka’s Kitchen, including a claim that she had resigned from the business at the Corporate Affairs Commission but remained linked to one of its bank accounts.
The transactions have also raised questions about possible conflict-of-interest issues, particularly concerning the LPRES transaction involving Katuka’s Kitchen.
Previous Relief Material Allegations
The latest financial questions come months after Audu faced separate allegations concerning the alleged diversion of relief materials meant for vulnerable residents of Taraba State.
In March 2026, allegations circulated on social media accusing the agency of diverting more than 10,000 bags of rice and over 1,000 cartons of groundnut oil allegedly meant for internally displaced persons and other vulnerable residents.
Audu denied the allegations and voluntarily presented herself to security and investigative authorities, including the police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Special Adviser on Security to the Taraba State Governor and the state Ministry of Justice.
She requested a comprehensive investigation into the allegations.
The earlier allegations had not been publicly substantiated with verifiable evidence at the time of the reports.
A naming ceremony in the Orile Iganmu area of Lagos State reportedly turned tragic after police officers allegedly discharged firearms, leaving an 11-year-old girl and an elderly man with gunshot injuries.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 8pm on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, around Ekunjinmi/Wewe Street, Orile Iganmu.
According to the Movement for the Transformation of Nigeria (MOTION), Apapa Coordinating Structure, police officers arrived at the gathering and attempted to stop the event, including the activities of the DJ.
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MOTION said residents resisted the move, stating that there was no apparent justification for stopping the gathering.
The group alleged that firearms were discharged during the ensuing incident, injuring two residents.
The 11-year-old victim, identified as Mistura Murtala, was reportedly shot in the leg and rushed to Olukayode Hospital in Orile Iganmu, where she is receiving emergency medical treatment.
MOTION said it had spoken with members of Mistura’s family, including her mother and brother, and was monitoring her condition.
An elderly man identified as Sodiq Aremu was also reportedly shot in the neck. The group said he remains hospitalised and has been advised to undergo emergency surgery estimated to cost about ₦500,000.
MOTION said it was particularly concerned by eyewitness accounts identifying a police officer popularly known as “Kola” as allegedly being involved in the incident.
According to the group, an eyewitness claimed to have seen the officer discharge a firearm, resulting in the young girl’s injury.
MOTION stressed that the allegation must be properly investigated and corroborated through available evidence and witness testimony.
The group demanded answers over why police officers were called to the gathering, what offence or disturbance they were responding to, why the ceremony was being stopped and which officers were present at the scene.
It also demanded an investigation into who discharged the firearm and why a firearm was allegedly discharged in a populated residential environment.
MOTION further called for the preservation of photographs, videos, medical records, witness accounts, police reports and other relevant evidence, including CCTV footage where available.
The group also raised concerns over an allegation that a traditional community leader, locally referred to as the Baale, told Mistura’s parent that her injury was caused by tear gas rather than a firearm.
MOTION said the claim should be tested against medical and other available evidence, stressing that it was treating the matter as an allegation requiring verification.
The group also said it had received information about an earlier alleged encounter between Aremu and the officer known as “Kola”, including an allegation of a previous arrest, but noted that the claim required verification.
MOTION acknowledged that the Divisional Police Officer of Orile Police Station had been informed of the incident and that medical assistance was reportedly provided to one of the victims.
However, it insisted that the provision of medical assistance did not remove the need for a transparent investigation into the circumstances of the shooting, who discharged the firearm and whether the conduct complied with the law and applicable police rules.
The group called for an immediate, impartial and transparent investigation, the identification of all police officers involved, full medical support for both victims and protection for the victims, their families and witnesses.
It also demanded accountability if the investigation establishes misconduct or unlawful conduct, as well as appropriate redress and support for the victims.
MOTION said it was not calling for mob justice, violence or the prejudging of any criminal trial.
The group maintained that police officers entrusted with firearms to protect lives and maintain public safety must exercise force lawfully, responsibly and with necessary restraint.
It said the circumstances surrounding the shooting must be investigated and that the victims and their families deserved answers.
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