The Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) is a department under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tasked with monitoring Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) in Nigeria to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing.
Who Needs a SCUML Certificate?
Under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, businesses in specific sectors cannot operate corporate bank accounts without SCUML clearance. These sectors include:
- Real estate agencies, developers, and brokers
- Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and charities
- Hotels, hospitality outlets, and casinos
- Dealers in precious stones, metals, and luxury cars
- Accounting, audit, and tax consulting firms
- Legal practitioners and law firms
Mandatory Documents for Registration
To register successfully on the SCUML portal, you must compile and upload the following credentials:
- Certificate of Incorporation: Issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
- Status Report / Form CAC 1.1: Official registry sheet showing directors and shareholding structures.
- MEMART: The Memorandum and Articles of Association (for Limited Liability Companies).
- Tax Identification Number (TIN): FIRS-approved corporate tax identification letter.
- Valid IDs: Government-issued identity cards for all company directors.
- AML/CFT Policy: A written Anti-Money Laundering policy outlining your customer KYC controls.
Important: The AML/CFT Policy must comply with the EFCC regulations. Uploading a generic or incomplete policy manual will lead to instant rejection.
Filing Process and Timeline
Once files are uploaded, the compliance team at SCUML audits the submission. Approvals take between 5 to 10 working days, after which a digital or physical SCUML Certificate is issued.