Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has urged members of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON) in the state to safeguard their businesses by strictly adhering to all laws governing their operations.
Speaking at a one-day sensitisation programme in Osogbo on Tuesday, organised by AMDON in collaboration with the EFCC’s Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), Adeleke said compliance should be seen as a protective measure rather than a bureaucratic hurdle. His speech was read by the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Bunmi Jenyo.
“Our government will not tolerate bad actors tarnishing the reputation of hardworking motor dealers. Compliance is not optional. Register your businesses, obtain the SCUML certificate, maintain records, report suspicious transactions, and avoid cash payments for high-value vehicles,” Adeleke said.
He emphasised that cooperation with anti-graft agencies would not be adversarial but supportive. “The EFCC’s presence today underscores their commitment to support, not stifle, legitimate enterprises,” he added.
Toyin Ehindero-Benson, EFCC Zonal Coordinator of SCUML, Ibadan, said the programme aims to strengthen stakeholder collaboration and promote adherence to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regulations. She highlighted the importance of Know Your Customer (KYC) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) practices in preventing the misuse of legitimate businesses.
AMDON National Vice President, Adeniyi Ibrahim, also urged members to follow EFCC guidelines carefully to avoid legal complications and harassment. “All instructions provided by the EFCC should be strictly adhered to,” he said.
The initiative is part of the EFCC’s broader approach under current leadership, focusing on sensitisation and engagement with various sectors to prevent financial crimes.
Earlier, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, warned youths nationwide against engaging in cybercrimes, stressing that many young Nigerians are being convicted for internet fraud and branded as ex-convicts. He encouraged reporting suspicious activities through the agency’s Eagle Eye App.
Olukoyede said corruption continues to hinder national development and urged citizens, especially young people, to act as whistleblowers in their communities. “We must take definitive steps to change the narrative on corruption,” he added.
The programme in Osun reflects a growing emphasis on compliance, awareness, and partnership between regulators and business operators to ensure ethical and lawful practices in Nigeria’s commercial sectors.