In a united front against financial crimes, stakeholders across West Africa gathered for the “Enhancing Asset Recovery and Management Online Training Program” organized by the Warien Rose Foundation in collaboration with the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).

The high-impact session, held virtually , brought together professionals from anti-corruption agencies, legal institutions, civil society, and financial sectors to sharpen tools in uncovering hidden assets and combating money laundering.

Dr. Efe Anaughe Esq, President of Warien Rose Foundation, emphasized the urgency of building capacity and collaboration across regions to recover looted funds and return them to the people.

She added that
Warien Rose Foundation, GIABA, ICPC, and global partners champion bold reforms in asset recovery
“We must act together with determination and innovation. Asset recovery isn’t just a legal process—it’s a justice mission,” she said.

The program provided a powerful platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and renewed commitment to transparency and accountability.
Delivering a compelling speech titled “Breaking Barriers: Challenges and Achieving Success in Asset Recovery”, Barrister Yvonne William-Mbata, Assistant Chief Superintendent and Head of the Legal Unit, ICPC Lagos, spotlighted systemic bottlenecks in asset tracing and prosecution. She highlighted how bureaucracy, lack of cooperation, and limited access to information hinder recovery efforts

“Despite the barriers, success is possible through inter-agency collaboration, legal innovation, and sustained public support,” she stated.

She represented the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner (RACC) for Lagos State, Alexander Chukwurah, FSI, who leads the ICPC’s anti-graft strategies in the state

In a session titled “Cracking the Code: Uncovering Hidden Assets and Combating Financial Crimes”, Cheikh Ousmane Touré, a representative of GIABA, shared insights into transnational asset laundering networks and the evolving tactics used by corrupt entities. He stressed the importance of intelligence-sharing and regional cooperation in dismantling financial crime rings.
Renowned lawyer and moderator Barrister Clara Rufai issued a passionate call to action during the panel discussion. She urged stakeholders, law enforcement, and citizens to recognize that the fight against financial crime is a fight for the future.
“We must collectively combat crimes like money laundering and terrorism. If we fail, it’s not just our systems that collapse—it’s the future of generations yet unborn,” she warned.

Participants walked away with actionable strategies on:
How to trace and seize hidden assets,
Legal frameworks for ethical asset management and
the power of cross-sector collaboration in achieving results.