Apr.21, 2010
ABUJA — Nigeria's acting president has urged lawmakers to swiftly pass anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing laws to stop the country from being blacklisted globally.
Goodluck Jonathan urged the deputies in a letter seen by journalists on Tuesday, to pass the bills by June 30, warning of "grave economic and political consequences" if Nigeria was to be blacklisted by the international Financial Action Task Force (FAFT).
Legitimate international transactions risk being frustrated while foreign investment could be driven away if the country shows no commitment to fighting the two crimes, he said.
"International investors will be scared to invest in Nigeria and those willing to do so will request for the most stringest conditions," he said.
"Nigeria's international image will be highly dented as a country without the political will to cooperate in the global war on terror," said Jonathan.
The FATF is an inter-governmental body set up in 1989 at the G7 summit in Paris with the aim to develop and promote national and international policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
It works to bring about the necessary political will towards legislative and regulatory reforms against the two crimes.
Presidency Umaru Yar'Adua sent the two bills to parliament last year.
"Given this administration's commitment to combat corruption and terror, and boost the country's economic development, a blacklisting by FATF will no doubt seriously hamper the laudable efforts," added Jonathan.