EFCC Reaffirms Free SCUML Registration

By Sherif Salau

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has restated that registration with the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) remains free of charge, following a rise in complaints from members of the public who report being asked to pay for the process.

In a statement released this week, the commission made clear that no official fee is required for SCUML registration. It noted that some individuals and groups have been presenting themselves as intermediaries and demanding payment under the guise of speeding up or facilitating the exercise. The EFCC described such demands as unauthorised and contrary to its established protocol.

SCUML registration forms part of Nigeria’s framework for preventing money laundering and the financing of terrorism. It applies to designated non-financial institutions and professionals whose activities involve the handling of client funds or high-value transactions. These include legal practitioners, accountants, real estate operators, dealers in precious stones and metals, and certain other categories of business.

The commission said it had received multiple reports of people being charged varying sums by parties claiming to offer assisted registration. Officials stressed that the only valid route is through the authorised online portal or designated EFCC channels, and that any request for money in connection with the official process should be disregarded and reported.

By issuing the clarification, the EFCC aims to protect the integrity of the registration system and reduce the risk of members of the public falling victim to opportunistic demands. The agency encouraged those required to register to complete the process themselves and to treat unsolicited offers of paid assistance with caution.

The reminder comes as compliance obligations continue to form an important part of business and professional life across the country. For many operators still navigating the requirements, the commission’s position leaves little room for ambiguity: the registration itself carries no cost, and any suggestion otherwise should be treated as a warning sign rather than an official instruction.