The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has called for enhanced intelligence support, specialised training and stronger collaboration with the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to improve investigations into money laundering, terrorism financing and other complex financial crimes.
Disu made the call while receiving the Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, Hajia Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, and her delegation on a courtesy visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to deepening operational synergy, strengthening information-sharing mechanisms and institutionalising strategic collaboration.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, said discussions centred on enhancing collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force and the NFIU to strengthen the country’s capacity to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.
According to Iniedu, the NFIU delegation comprised the Chief of Staff, Mohammed Ahmed; General Counsel, Felix Obiamalu; Chief Operating Officer, Law Enforcement Agencies, Emmanuel Sotande; Chief Operating Officer, Information Security Systems, Abdulrahman Mustapha; Special Adviser on Operations, Douglas Egwuemi; and Special Adviser on Administration, Mustapha Awaisu.
He said Bakari described the partnership between the two agencies as critical to Nigeria’s national security architecture, noting that the forthcoming 2027 Mutual Evaluation would assess how effectively the Nigeria Police Force utilises financial intelligence provided by the NFIU to dismantle money laundering networks, combat terrorism financing and secure convictions in financial crime cases.
“The partnership between the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit remains fundamental to Nigeria’s national security architecture. The forthcoming 2027 Mutual Evaluation will critically assess how effectively the Police utilises NFIU financial intelligence to dismantle money laundering networks, counter terrorism financing and secure prosecutions in related financial crimes,” Iniedu quoted Bakari as saying.
The Force spokesman said the NFIU Director commended the Inspector-General for approving a joint stock-taking exercise between the two organisations and called for deeper institutional cooperation, including extending Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) awareness programmes to police commands and formations nationwide.
Bakari also stressed the need to build sustainable institutional capacity rather than rely on isolated successes. She further expressed condolences to the Nigeria Police Force over officers who lost their lives in the line of duty and reaffirmed the NFIU’s continued support.
Responding, the Inspector-General underscored the importance of a mutually beneficial partnership between the Police and the NFIU, highlighting the strategic role of the Force’s specialised Anti-Money Laundering Unit and other designated operational divisions in investigating financial crimes, terrorism financing, banditry and other complex transnational offences.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to building a truly symbiotic partnership with the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit. Given the highly technical nature of anti-money laundering investigations, there is a need for sustained advanced training for specialised police personnel, continuous access to actionable financial intelligence and modern investigative tools to strengthen investigations and improve conviction rates,” Iniedu quoted the IGP as saying.
The police chief noted that strengthening collaboration between the two institutions would further enhance the Force’s operational capacity and improve Nigeria’s response to increasingly sophisticated financial crimes.
Iniedu said the Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with strategic partners such as the NFIU to strengthen intelligence-led policing, safeguard national integrity and reinforce public confidence in law enforcement.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in strengthening partnerships with critical institutions such as the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit to enhance operational effectiveness, safeguard national integrity and restore public trust in law enforcement,” the Force spokesman stated.
