Cross River State Government has warned that it would not hesitate to invoke relevant sections of the law and prosecute any official found culpable of money laundering, terrorism financing, and other forms of financial crime.

The warning was issued by the state governor, Senator Bassey Otu, while declaring open a two-day Strategic Level Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Workshop for senior government officials in Calabar on Thursday.

Speaking at the event, organised by the state government through the Planning Commission and attended by top public officers across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), the governor, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, described the training as timely and strategic, stressing that it would significantly strengthen financial prudence and governance in Cross River State.

“I have gone through the programme of events, and I am pleased with what I have seen. This training is going to strengthen us financially, strengthen how we do things in Cross River State, and make us more prudent in the way we manage public funds,” the governor said.

He stressed that his administration has zero tolerance for fraud, money laundering, and related financial crimes, warning that any official found culpable would face firm consequences.

“This administration has zero tolerance for anything that has to do with fraud or money laundering. Those who have indulged in such acts already know the consequences, and we will not hesitate to continue enforcing discipline,” Otu said.

The governor further charged participants to fully internalise the training and cascade the knowledge to colleagues not in attendance, especially at the local government level, emphasising that the workshop should serve as a safeguard against actions capable of exposing officials to anti-corruption agencies.

He assured that such capacity-building programmes would be sustained and possibly held more frequently to continuously reinforce ethical financial practices.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Planning Commission, Dr Bong Duke, described the workshop as a strategic intervention aimed at protecting the state’s economy, strengthening governance structures, and safeguarding public resources.

Duke noted that money laundering and terrorism financing pose real threats to economic stability and sustainable development, adding that public officials are custodians of trust whose actions directly impact the state’s future.

He explained that the training was designed to move participants beyond awareness to practical competence in identifying risks, strengthening controls, and enforcing compliance in line with both national and international standards.

The Lead Facilitator and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Ade Shonubi, commended the Cross River State Government for its foresight and commitment to good governance.

Shonubi said the decision to prioritise a strategic-level engagement for senior officials demonstrated strong leadership and dedication to transparency and accountability.

He noted that the recent removal of Nigeria from the global grey list marked progress but cautioned that sustained effort was required at both federal and sub-national levels.

He also stressed that effective AML/CFT implementation at the state level is critical to protecting public finances, strengthening institutions, and boosting investor confidence.

Also speaking, the Accountant General of Cross River State, Dr (Mrs) Glory Effiong, described the workshop as a crucial step towards sustaining the state’s growing reputation for financial credibility and investor friendliness.

Effiong said the administration of Governor Otu remains committed to building a transparent, accountable, and corruption-resistant financial system.

According to her, participants were carefully selected to ensure continuity and long-term impact, urging them to go beyond theory and apply the lessons learned to daily operations.

She expressed confidence that the training would further position Cross River as a leading state in financial governance.

Participants at the workshop included directors of finance and procurement, principal officers in MDAs, as well as selected audit, legal, and treasury staff.

The training, aimed at equipping them with practical skills to detect and prevent suspicious transactions, strengthen procurement transparency, manage AML/CFT risks, and align state financial processes with national and international best practices, continues through Friday. (Guardian)