The commercial bank partners with NDLEA to combat drug trafficking and money laundering, reinforcing its commitment to fighting financial crimes in Nigeria.
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ccess Bank PLC has reaffirmed its commitment to combating illicit drug trafficking and money laundering by strengthening its partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Also read: Access Holdings donates 159 pints of blood for sickle cell awareness
This pledge was made during the formal decoration of the bank’s Group Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Roosevelt Ogbonna, and Group Chief Conduct and Compliance Officer, Femi Jaiyeola, as partners in the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA). The ceremony took place at Access Bank’s headquarters on Victoria Island, Lagos.
Nigeria continues to face significant challenges in its battle against drug trafficking and abuse.
The NDLEA has reported a substantial rise in drug seizures, particularly in major cities, where traffickers often rely on complex financial networks to launder illicit profits.
Financial institutions, therefore, play a pivotal role in disrupting these operations, and Access Bank is at the forefront of such efforts.
Speaking at the event, Abraham Aziegbe, Group Head of Retail Operations, who represented Access Bank’s Managing Director, Roosevelt Ogbonna, reaffirmed the bank’s firm stance against financial crimes that enable drug trafficking.
He highlighted the bank’s dedication to maintaining a robust compliance framework to detect and prevent illegal financial activities.
“We are grateful to the NDLEA for this recognition. As one of Africa’s leading financial institutions, we acknowledge our responsibility in ensuring our financial systems are not used to facilitate illicit activities. Our compliance framework is designed to detect and deter such activities. We will continue working closely with the NDLEA and other law enforcement agencies to ensure that drug traffickers and their associates cannot exploit the financial sector. This partnership is vital to our shared goal of strengthening national security,” Aziegbe said.
The event was chaired by Dr Ibrahim Abdul, Deputy Commander General of Narcotics and Director of Assets and Financial Investigation at NDLEA.
He commended Access Bank for its proactive stance in fighting money laundering and supporting law enforcement efforts.
Dr Abdul praised the bank’s commitment to national security through its vigilant financial crime prevention measures.
Also read: Access Bank to acquire National Bank of Kenya
Other notable attendees included Omolade Fagboyegbe, Deputy Commander General of Narcotics and Director of Seaport Operations and Marine Services, and senior officials from Access Bank, including Omobola Faleye, Group Head of Internal Audit; Robert Imowo, Group Head of Corporate Counsel; and Daniel Patrick, Unit Head of Regulatory Compliance.
Freelanews is the editorial byline of Freelanews.com, used for staff reports, news updates, press releases, and collaborative stories produced by the Freelanews Editorial Team.
