Ghali, who lauded the organisers for sensitizing the public on the roles and activities of SCUML, said the EFCC, since its establishment, had been grappling with the menace of money laundering and terrorism financing, among other corruption and economic and financial crimes. Speaking during a sensitization programme on SCUML organized by the AML/ CTF Forum in partnership with NGOs, CSOs Consortium in collaboration with ECOWAS/ GIABA in Lagos on July 6, 2021, the Lagos Zonal Head of EFCC, Ahmed Ghali, said that registration with SCUML has become necessary as a way of monitoring and reducing the risk of subversive use of the NGOs and CSOs by money launderers and terrorism financiers. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has called on Non-governmental Organisations, NGOs, and Civil Society Organisations, CSOs in the country to register with the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML.

it is important to note that the certificate is a mandatory obligation for Designated Non-financial Institutions (DNFIs) pursuant to Section 25 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 and non-compliance may also lead to criminal prosecution against such entity and its officers.Lagos Zonal Head of EFCC, Ahmed Ghali addressing paricipants at the SCUML Programme organised by AML/CTF Forum in Lagos on Tuesday The need for corporate entities to obtain SCUML’s certificate of registration is steadily on the increase as the opening and continued use of bank accounts for corporate entities partly depends on it (alongside other requirements like certificate of incorporation issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (“ CAC”), Tax Identification Number (“TIN”)). The certificate of registration is issued in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 (1) (a) and (4) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.

SCUML is a unit under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (“ EFCC”), as the Commission drives the operative activities of the Unit in line with Sections 6(C) and 7(2) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004. The Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (“ SCUML”) was established by the Federal Government in September 2005 in compliance with the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004 which was subsequently repealed and amended to the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011(as amended).

Scuml registration