Money Laundering: UK Govt Freezes 95 Accounts, Warns Nigerian Students

The Government of the United Kingdom says it has frozen 95 bank accounts mostly belonging to international students for money laundering.

The revelation came to light in Abuja on Friday, the Federal Ministry of Education said in a statement.

According to the statement, the UK’s National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) made the disclosure at a meeting, warning Nigerian students intending to study in Britain against allowing their accounts to be used to launder illicit funds.

The statement signed by the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations, Ben Goong, quoted an NECC representative as saying that money launderers usually contacted Nigerian students in the UK via social media in order to use their accounts to launder money usually for a fee.

The centre said any student caught involved in such would be prosecuted.

Goong’s statement read, “The British Government has warned intending Nigerian students to the United Kingdom against engaging in money laundering and other criminal activities.

“The British Government emphasised the need for students to be mindful of how their bank accounts are used, especially for the transfer of illicit funds as this will result in the termination of their studies and prosecution, when caught.

“While pledging to strengthen its fight against money laundering this year, the government disclosed that it discovered and froze 95 bank accounts, mostly belonging to international students.

“It stressed its resolve to take more concrete steps against the activities of money launderers, saying this is prompted by its plan to reintroduce a post study work visa for international graduate students in 2020 which is expected to increase the number of international students, including Nigeria.”

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