President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given his approval for the appointment of Ms. Hafsat Abubakar Bakari as the new Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). This announcement was made through a statement released by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Tuesday evening. Ms. Bakari’s appointment is contingent upon confirmation by the Senate. Prior to assuming her role as CEO of the NFIU, she held the position of Deputy Director at the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit. According to Ngelale’s statement, Ms. Bakari is a legal professional and financial intelligence specialist with extensive experience in anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and counter-proliferation financing (AML/CFT/CPF). She previously served in various capacities at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), including Head of the General Services Unit, Head of the Strategy and Reorientation Unit, and Head of the Board Secretariat. President Tinubu expects Ms. Bakari to utilize her considerable experience and expertise effectively in this important role, particularly in light of his administration’s efforts to combat illicit financial flows and other fraudulent activities prevalent in certain segments of the nation’s foreign exchange markets.
