Nigeria has received international recognition after the collaborative efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) earned the country the prestigious UNODC–World Bank–Egmont Group Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative Award.
The award was presented during the 32nd Egmont Group Plenary of Heads of Financial Intelligence Units held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from July 5 to July 10, 2026.
Recognized as one of the highest honours in the global financial intelligence community, the StAR Initiative Award celebrates exceptional achievements in the use of financial intelligence to support investigations, dismantle illicit financial networks, recover stolen assets, and promote justice.
The Egmont Group stated that the award is reserved for outstanding cases that demonstrate innovation, effective international cooperation, operational excellence, and measurable impact in combating financial crimes.
According to the organization, the partnership between the EFCC and the NFIU has become a global example of how timely and secure intelligence sharing between domestic institutions and international partners can lead to successful asset recovery. It noted that intelligence generated by the NFIU played a vital role in strengthening EFCC investigations, resulting in the recovery of significant stolen assets.
The annual Egmont Group Plenary serves as the organization’s highest decision-making forum, bringing together heads of Financial Intelligence Units to discuss strategic priorities, exchange expertise, and strengthen global cooperation against financial crimes.
This year’s meeting also featured discussions on improving public-private partnerships to address the growing complexity of financial crime through stronger collaboration between Financial Intelligence Units and other stakeholders.
The Egmont Group consists of 180 member Financial Intelligence Units worldwide and is committed to enhancing international cooperation, intelligence sharing, and coordinated efforts to detect, prevent, and disrupt financial crimes.
