2017-05-08 | OFISD/DIR/CIR/GEN/17/128The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a reminder to all banks and other financial institutions (OFIs) regarding the mandatory submission of regular Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) returns. OFIs are required to submit various AML/CFT reports, including Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs), Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs), Foreign Currency Transaction Reports (FTRs), Risk Assessment Reports, PEPs lists, Employee Annual Training Program, Compliance Monitoring, and Three-Tiered KYC. Submission of these reports is to be done electronically by the 14th day after each reporting month or a NIL return will be rendered if no report is due in that period. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in appropriate sanctions, including revocation of operating licenses. For inquiries or further clarifications, please contact Mr. Haruna Bala Mustafa or Ahmed Shehu at the provided email addresses.
09-462-35439 ofid@cenbank.org CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department 33, Tafawa Balewa Way, Central Business District P. M. B. 0187 Garki, Abuja.
LETTER TO ALL OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (OFIs) ON RENDITION OF RETURNS ON ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AND COMBATTING FINANCING OF TERRORISM (AML/CFT) The Central Bank of Nigeria has observed with concern the general low level of rendition of AML/CFT returns by OFIs, contrary to regulatory requirement. This has hampered supervisory efforts to effectively assess and mitigate money laundering risks in the industry.
It will be recalled that the CBN had issued a circular Ref: FPR/DIR/CON/BOF/01/036 dated 12th August, 2012 requiring all banks and other financial institutions under its purview to render various AML/CFT returns in prescribed formats and at appropriate periods in line with extant AML/CFT laws and regulations.
For the avoidance of doubt, it must be reiterated that the relevant provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 (as amended) and CBN AML/CFT Regulations, 2013, require Banks and Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) to render various returns to the CBN and Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). These returns include:
| Type of Return | Rendered To | Time/Frequency | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S/N | |||||
| 1 | Currency Transaction Reports | NFIU | Within 7 days | ||
| (CTRs) | |||||
| 2 | Suspicious | Transaction | NFIU | Within 24 Hours | |
| Reports (STRs) | |||||
| 3 | Foreign Currency Transaction | CBN and NFIU | Within 7 days | ||
| Reports (FTRs) | |||||
| 4 | Risk Assessment Report | CBN | Monthly | ||
| 5 | Politically | Exposed | Persons | CBN and NFIU | Monthly |
| (PEPs) | |||||
| 6 | Annual | Employee | Education | CBN and NFIU | Annually |
| and Training Program |
| 7 | Compliance | with | Employee | CBN and NFIU | Quarterly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training Program | |||||
| 8 | Monitoring | of | Employee | CBN | Semi-annually (June |
| Conduct | and December every | ||||
| year) | |||||
| 9 | Three Tiered KYC | CBN and NFIU | Quarterly | ||
| 10 | Testing for the Adequacy of | CBN and NFIU | Annually | ||
| AML/CFT Compliance |
All OFIs are therefore required to render regular returns as highlighted above in the attached formats. Explanatory Notes have also been attached to facilitate understanding and ease completion and rendition of the returns.
The returns should be submitted electronically to the following e-mail addresses on or
| S/N | E-MAIL ADDRESS | OFI TYPE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | mfbamlreturns@cbn.gov.nq | Microfinance Banks (MFBs) |
| 2 | pmbbamlreturns@cbn.gov.nq | Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) |
| 3 | dfiamlreturns@cbn.gov.ng | Development Finance Institutions |
| (DFIs | ||
| 4 | fcamlreturns@cbn.gov.nq | Finance Companies (FCs) |
| 5 | bdcamlreturns@cbn.gov.nq | Bureaux De Change (BDCs) |
before the 14th day after the end of every reporting month: Where there is no report to be filed in a given reporting period, a NIL return shall be rendered.
Please note that failure to render statutory returns and comply with regulatory directives will attract appropriate sanctions including the revocation of operating licence.
For inquiries or further clarifications, please contact Mr. Haruna Bala Mustafa at hbmustafa@cbn.gov.ng or Ahmed Shehu at sahmed5@cbn.gov.ng. Please be guided accordingly.
'Tokunbo Martins (Mrs.) Director, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department