GIABA TO TRAIN STAKEHOLDERS ON INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING CORRUPTION CASES

The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) will hold a Regional Training Workshop on the Investigation and Prosecution of Corruption Cases in Niamey, Republic of Niger, from April 9 to April 12, 2018.

The objectives of the programme include: sensitizing the participants on international developments, the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), and best practices in fighting corruption; enhancing the skills and capacities of prosecutors and law enforcement officers to effectively investigate and prosecute corruption-related cases; providing a platform for participants to share their experiences on the status of implementation of anti-corruption initiatives, including challenges in the investigation and prosecution of corruption in their countries; and promoting cooperation and coordination among competent authorities in the region on issues relating to investigations and prosecution of AML/CFT cases.

The report, Corruption-Money Laundering Nexus: An Analysis of Risks and Control Measures in West Africa, published by GIABA in 2010, noted that corruption in all its ramifications provides an enabling environment for money laundering and represents a major impediment to anti-money laundering (AML) implementation. The report further revealed that corruption not only produces, but also protects, money laundering (ML) and the financing of terrorism (TF).

Foremost among international instruments against corruption are the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Standards, the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), and the ECOWAS Protocol for the Fight against Corruption. Currently, all GIABA member States are parties to these instruments and have adopted policies, procedures and mechanisms relating to customer due diligence, record keeping, suspicious transaction reporting, financial intelligence units, international cooperation and mutual legal assistance.

However, GIABA’s experience in the region has shown that there is little or no information regarding implementation of the relevant instruments on corruption, particularly relating to investigation, prosecution, confiscation and/or repatriation of the proceeds of corruption. The Regional Training Workshop on the Investigation and Prosecution of Corruption Cases is therefore organized to, among other things, strengthen the capacities of investigators and prosecutors in GIABA member States to effectively carry out their responsibilities.

Fifty- two (52) participants are expected to attend the workshop.

The broad themes to cover in the course include: Corruption Offences; Principles of Prosecution and Investigation of Corruption Cases; Instituting Criminal Proceedings; Qualification of Criminal Offences; Gathering and Use of Evidence; Laying Charges, Presenting and Supporting Cases in Court; International Cooperation; Use of FATF Recommendations to Combat Corruption; and Freezing , Seizure and Confiscation of Proceeds of Corruption. The course will be delivered by international and regional experts, through presentations, experience sharing, case reviews and syndicate group exercises.

The programme is expected to enable member States to review their legal frameworks on anti-corruption to conform to the requirements of the UNCAC, the AU Convention and the ECOWAS Protocol, including strengthening and implementing transparent asset declaration regimes. The training is also expected to facilitate the effective implementation of these Conventions and Protocols.