Eight Nigerian-Americans who won in the US midterm elections have received congratulations from President Muhammadu Buhari.
Segun Adeyina, Gabe Okoye, Solomon Adesanya, Tish Naghise, and Phil Olaleye won their seats in the Georgia State legislature as State Representatives in respective Districts, according to a statement made on Wednesday, November 9, by the president’s media adviser, Femi Adesina.
Similarly, Esther Agbaje was re-elected as Minnesota State Representative in District 59B; Carol Kazeem was elected to represent Pennsylvania State in District 159; while Dr. Oye Owolewa was re-elected to the United States.
President Buhari commended the Nigerian-Americans for their essential support and partnerships with organizations linked to the goals and objectives of Nigerians in Diaspora associations in the United States over the years, and he wished them a fruitful term in office.
He reiterated his unwavering support for every Nigerian succeeding at home and abroad; noting that their contributions will always be remembered and honored.
President Buhari also disclosed that Nigerians who succeed in good causes are assets to the country and the continent.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has been classified as a high-risk nation for money laundering and terrorism funding by the Basel Institute on Governance.
Nigeria was ranked 17th out of 128 countries with a score of 6.77 out of 10.
Its study, “Basel AML Index 2022: 11th Public Edition – Ranking money laundering and terrorism funding concerns around the world,” included the rating, on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.
The Basel Institute on Governance is an independent, worldwide non-profit organization devoted to preventing and combatting corruption; as well as other financial crimes and strengthening governance around the world.
The Institute developed and maintains the Basel AML Index.
Specifically, the report further noted; “Countries with high risks of ML/TF often suffer from high risks of environmental crime.”
It was also noted that many countries including Nigeria were not doing enough to tackle the issue of money laundering and terrorist financing.
The report read in part, “When it comes to tackling dirty money; most countries are taking one step forward and four steps back; remaining too many steps behind criminals seeking to launder illicit funds.
“Eleven years since the first publication of the Basel AML Index; a leading independent ranking of money laundering and terrorist financing risks in countries around the world; progress in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing remains paralysed.
“The average global money laundering risk according to this year’s Index is stuck at 5.25 out of 10, where 10 is the maximum risk level.”
