‘Circular’ SEC issues warning to capital market operators against dealing with clients related to proscribed groups

Capital Market Operators (CMOs) in Nigeria have been warned not to interact with clients linked to proscribed terrorist organisations in any area of the country, according to the SEC.

After Nigeria’s Justice Ministry published a gazette classifying bandit organizations operating in any region of the country as terrorists, the SEC issued a circular.

Existing CMOs will be checked prior to completing any transaction starting on the date of the circular, they added.

The SEC warned that “Capital Market Operators (CMOs) are hereby notified that in line with the requirements of the Terrorism Prevention Act (No. 10,2011) and Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Order Motion, 2021, the Federal Government of Nigeria has declared the activities of “YAN BINDIGA GROUP”, YAN TA’ADDA GROUP AND OTHER SIMILAR Groups in any part of Nigeria as Terrorism and Illegal.”

The SEC added that the FG has proscribed their existence and restrained any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever in any form in the activities of any of the groups.

They also stated that Capital Market Operators (CMOs) are required to screen and verify every client against the above-proscribed groups and any other proscribed terrorist group(s), citing the United Nation Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) list, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list, etc. prior to the on-boarding of a new client and when carrying out one-off transaction(s).

It also urged CMOs to file suspicious transaction reports (STRs) immediately to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.What you should know

The FG released a gazette last week signed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN officially declaring bandit groups operating in any parts of the country as Terrorists.

Rtn. Victor Ojelabi

Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.