Felix Obiamalu

Reforming Nigeria's Financial Intelligence Through Systems Thinking and Strategic Leadership

“At a critical point in my leadership journey, I recognised that technical competence alone is not enough to drive institutional transformation. The AIG Public Leaders Programme offered that rare combination of intellectual rigour and practical reform focus.” 

-Felix Obiamalu, General Counsel, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Abuja, Nigeria.


Felix Obiamalu has built his career at the intersection of law, finance, and national security. As General Counsel at the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the agency responsible for tracking and analysing financial intelligence to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, he saw early on that technical expertise alone would not drive lasting change. 

Recognising the need for a stronger leadership approach grounded in systems thinking and accountability, he joined the first cohort of the AIG Public Leaders Programme (AIG PLP). Reflecting on the experience, Felix shares how the programme strengthened his leadership, opened up new opportunities, and helped him build partnerships that have had a tangible impact on Nigeria’s financial system. “The progress I have made over the past year is closely linked to the discipline, frameworks, and leadership mindset shaped through the AIG PLP. The peer network we built also played a key role in driving the collaboration that supported Nigeria’s exit from the FATF Grey-list.” 

As part of the programme, Felix led a reform project focused on improving how the NFIU manages interim freezing orders on bank accounts, a key legal tool used to prevent suspicious funds from being moved. 

Before the project, the process lacked consistency, with gaps in documentation and monitoring. To address this, he introduced clearer procedures, improved record-keeping, and strengthened coordination between legal, operations, and compliance teams. He also introduced a Maker-Checker system to reduce errors and ensure all actions comply fully with the law. 

The impact was clear. Delays were reduced, processes became more defensible, and partner agencies had greater confidence in the system. More importantly, the changes helped reinforce a culture of transparency and rule-based decision-making. 

Beyond his work at the NFIU, Felix has continued to contribute to strengthening financial systems across the region. He supported Financial Intelligence Units in Liberia, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone to join the Egmont Group, helping align them with global standards. He also introduced online publications within the NFIU to make legal guidance and reform insights more accessible. 

The collaborative mindset developed through the AIG PLP has also played a role in building partnerships that contributed to Nigeria’s removal from the FATF Grey-list, strengthening the country’s standing in the global financial system. 

For Felix, reform is continuous. “Reform is not a project with an end date; it is a discipline,” he says. 

His journey reflects what is possible when public sector leaders are equipped with the right tools, networks, and support to drive change within their institutions and beyond. 

Previous
Previous

Emmanuel Swende

Next
Next

Strengthening Frontline Response to SGBV