Kaduna hotel sealed for breaching money laundering act

The Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sealed up Hampton Hilton Hotel and Apartments, Kaduna for breaching the money laundering act.

The EFCC in a statement on Monday said “the sealing up of the hotel was due to non-compliance with the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regulations of the Financial Action Task Force, FATF for Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions, DNFBPs. 

“The entity was found to have committed multiple infractions in the course of the first evaluation carried out on it, on June 4, 2024, leading to the issuance of administrative sanctions to it by SCUML.”

The hotel was also found to have committed further infractions following the compliance evaluation of June 13, 2025, for which it was slammed a fine of N2.3 million, payable within seven days and with instruction to ensure full compliance with the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022 and AML/CFT regulations or face further consequences.

According to the EFCC’s statement, while the hotel refused to pay the fine, it, as well, dishonoured SCUML’s invite to show up for compliance evaluation, resulting in the sealing of the premises.

The anti-graft agency added that SCUML has always ensured the DNFBPs’ compliance with Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022 and AML/CFT regulations.