The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has charged operators in both the casino and gaming sectors in the country to comply with Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Laws in their operations.
This call was made in Lagos at a workshop tagged “Promoting Implementation of Customer Due Diligence and Targeted Financial Sanctions Requirements in Casinos and Gaming Sector” organized by the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML), a Department in the EFCC.
The acting Lagos Zonal Director of the EFCC, Michael Wetkas who declared the workshop open, appreciated the contributions of those in the profession to Nigeria’s Economic growth and urged them to ensure that their operations align with the provisions of the Law.
Wetkas, who was represented by the head, Foreign Exchange Malpractices Section of the Commission’s Lagos Zonal Command, Richard Adejumo added that the EFCC’s goal is to support Nigeria’s efforts to exit the ‘Financial Action Task Force’ list and enhancing ‘Know Your Customer’ practices to help prevent Politically Exposed Persons from using the platforms for money laundering and embezzlement.
The acting Director of SCUML in the EFCC’s headquarters,Pascal Samu enjoined all industry operators to continue to promote the adoption of measures, such as customers’ due diligence, detection and filing of suspicious transaction reports, implementation of targeted financial sanction and beneficial ownership verification in their operations.
The Director of Lagos State Lotteries Board, Bashiru Are urged the participants to take the issue of compliance seriously and avoid falling prey to any criminal transaction.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma