Legal Practice :- When Anti-Money Laundering (AML) & Combating The Financing Of Terrorism (CFT) Compliance Obligations Arise For Legal Practitioners Under The New Rules Of Professional Conduct (RPC) For Legal Practitioners In Nigeria 

The New Rules Of Professional Conduct (RPC) for legal practitioners in Nigeria, due to take effect from the 1st of January,2024, was released with a new set of ethical considerations, particularly in the areas of Anti-Money Laundering & Combating The Financing Of Terrorism (AML/ CFT) compliance obligations that will be deemed to have become pending in certain situations and which now brings lawyers ever closer to the classification of Designated Non-Financial Businesses/Professionals (DNFBPs) which falls under the new Money-Laundering(Prohibition) Act of Nigeria.

This article will be looking at the topics of :-

– Objectives of the new RPC in AML/CFT considerations as they affect legal practitioners.

– When the obligations of lawyers in this regard will arise.

What are the objectives of the new RPC regarding AML/CFT Compliance Requirements imposed on legal practitioners?

– To promote adherence to the rule of law.

– To promote the duty of confidentiality and the client/lawyer privilege toward their clients and provide yardsticks for the overall ethics and best practices of the profession to ensure that legal services are not being misused by criminals or for legal practitioners to be unwittingly involved in money laundering and terrorism financing.

– Internally self-regulate members of the legal profession and where applicable, recommend lawyers in breach to appropriate disciplinary authorities in accordance with relevant provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act.

What is the application scope of the new RPC?

– The RPC shall apply to all lawyers whose names appear on the roll and as described in Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners Act.

When do the AML/CFT Compliance obligations of legal practitioners arise as prescribed in the new RPC?

– The reporting and compliance obligation of a lawyer shall arise when –

1. a) Acting as a formation agent of legal persons.

b). Acting as , or arranging for another person (proxy) to act as a director or secretary of a company, a partner of a partnership, or similar position in relation to other legal persons.

c). Providing a registered office, business address or accommodation, correspondence or administrative address for a company, a partnership or any other legal person or arrangement.

d). Acting or arranging for another person to act as trustees of an express trust or performing the equivalent function for another form of legal arrangement.

When will AML/CFT Compliance obligations be deemed not applicable to lawyers under the RPC?

– This obligation shall not apply to a legal practitioner who only provides notary services or merely certifies the execution or authority of a power of attorney or another instrument(not primarily prepared by the legal practitioner) which may facilitate :

a). Buying & selling of real property or business entities.

b). Managing money belonging to clients, securities and other assets.

c). Opening of management of bank, savings or securities accounts.

d). Organization of contributions necessary for the creation, operation or management of companies.

e). Creation, operation or management of trusts, companies, foundation or similar structures.

What are the record keeping obligations imposed on lawyers concerning general practice operations and regarding AML/CFT compliance?

– A lawyer shall maintain for a minimum of 5 years, an up-to-date record of necessary information of his clients that will aid the identification of such client & to keep or process such information in accordance with relevant data protection and client/professional privilege laws and rules applicable in Nigeria.

This article will be focused on the requirements and procedures outlined by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission ( The NUPRC or “The Commission”) for the following permits :-

– Permits to drill gas Wells.

– Permits for gas well initial completion.

– Permits for gas well workover and pre-entry.

Permits To Drill Gas Wells

– This permit is valid for 6 months and must be revalidated if work does not commence.

– The application shall conform with the Petroleum (Drilling & Production) Regulations & their subsequent amendments and shall contain among others the following :-

a). Well name and well engineering.

b). Surface & subsurface coordinates.

c). Contractor, rig name and validity.

d). Location (OPL/OML) identification.

e). Spud date.

f). Casing, cementing, mould and logging programmes.

g). Cost estimates.

h). Structural maps on a scale of 1:25,000.

i). Geological prognosis.

j). Pore pressure prediction study.

k). Proposed depth or TD.

l). Seismic sections/maps in cases of exploration and appraisal wells.

m). An applicable fee payment to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). 

Permits For Gas Well Initial Completion – Requirements & Procedures

– All applications seeking a permit for initial completion should conform with the Petroleum Drilling & Production Regulations and shall routinely contain among the following –

1). The well must have been drilled as approved by the commission.

2). Well name & number.

3). Name of hoist and owner.

4).  Proposed completion of schematic, well clean-up and completion type.

5). Final well drilling report.

6). Proposed completion intervals.

7). Cost estimates for the completion work.

8). Applicable statutory fee payment to NUPRC.

Permits For Gas Well Workover and Pre-Entry – Requirements

1. Name & number of well.

2. Name of hoist and owner.

3. Reason for re-entry or workover.

4. Detailed or sketched outline of job proposed.

5. Well history & well logs.

7. Drainage pattern of the relevant sands.
8. Current completion of schematics.

8. Proposed completion schematics.

9. Remaining reserves of the sand completed in the well.

10. Cost estimates of the work over.

11. A statutory fee payment to the NUPRC.

Telegram has transcended its role as a mere messaging app for casual conversations with friends. It has evolved into a powerful tool for streamlining processes, enhancing routines, and bolstering businesses. This versatile platform has demonstrated its effectiveness, and we are confident it can bring value to your project.

Similarweb says Telegram is ranked third among the world’s most renowned messengers. This achievement is not coincidental.

Read on to learn how you can:

• Create and choose the right promotional channel, group, or chatbot.
• Use the advanced capabilities of the Telegram features.
• Implement strategies for enhancing performance and achieving your goals more rapidly with helpful platforms.

Why Should You Use Telegram Marketing for Your Business?

Aside from being one of the top three messengers worldwide, Telegram offers at least three compelling reasons for businesses to use it as a promotional platform.

• Telegram is a potent promotional tool that offsets the limitations of Instagram or Facebook. In essence, it’s a microblog seamlessly integrated into your sales funnel. Here, you can share lengthy posts and configure chatbots to engage and warm up potential customers.
• You can create a private channel or group with specialized informational content. Numerous business entities, from traders to large IT corporations, establish exclusive channels or groups for training and access to premium paid content. This approach not only facilitates more sales but also broadens your customer outreach.
• Telegram is a versatile platform with various communication formats for every business representative. You can utilize it for everything, from setting up customer support services to configuring chatbots for proactive sales efforts.

By opting for Telegram, you broaden your horizons and enhance your sales potential. In the following sections, we’ll explain how you can effectively leverage these advantages.

Business Opportunities on Telegram

Let’s look closer at the features that Telegram will give to your business.

Channels

It represents one of the most popular and multifunctional methods for engaging with your business and target audience. Telegram lets you share text, documents, images, and audio and video files. Subscribers can read, like, and discuss publications within a dedicated group or a separate service.

To create a Telegram Channel, follow these steps using either a smartphone or desktop application:

1. Click “New Channel”

1. Provide the channel’s name, description, and logo. The channel’s name doesn’t necessarily have to align with the company’s name; often, companies name them after a specific project or product and add a distinct logo. For example, “Junior Developer” might be used to discuss one of GoIT’s EdTech projects.

1. Select the visibility settings for the channel. This step can be skipped or adjusted later

1. Optionally, add users from your contacts to the channel

Here is a perfectly designed Telegram channel:

Telegram channels are most commonly created by news agencies, bloggers, and anyone seeking to maintain the attention of their target audience.

However, there’s a valuable and sometimes overlooked tip even by experienced users – it involves creating and connecting groups.

Groups

Telegram Group can be more than just an open or closed chat with users on free topics. Groups can also be used as a thread to discuss specific news and events and create special promotions.

To create a Telegram Group for your business, you need:

1. Click “New Group”

1. Name it and upload a Logo or another picture you need

1. Add members or skip this step to take it later.

It is what the Telegram Group looks like:

Here’s the tip! Establish a group for discussing your channel’s publications. This approach enhances subscriber engagement and allows them to voice their opinions on specific topics.

To do this:

1. Access the settings of your existing business channel and click Manage Channel

1. Choose Add a Group for Discussion

1. You can choose the already created Group or create a new one.

Chatbots

An element of business automation that seems simple at first sight. It’s a great way to build a tremendous automatic sales funnel.

Consider two ways to use the Telegram chatbot.

The easiest way

It can be created even by users without experience through LivegramBot

After creating a bot and adding it according to the instructions above, you can connect the answering machine, and consumers can place an order or leave a message.

The Pro-Way

Leverage third-party platforms like SendPulse ChatBot Builder to craft a distinctive chatbot for your business. Take a closer look at Eddy Travels Bot, and you’ll recognize its potential as an effective sales tool capable of replacing the need for human intervention.

Only you decide which way to choose based on your budget and tasks.

Telegram Marketing Strategy

Now that you know how to start with all the Telegram functionality, let’s make this knowledge an advanced business promotion strategy.

Step 1. Set your Telegram promotion goals

It’s essential to understand your objectives when using Telegram. This clarity will enable you to identify the functions that can be delegated to the platform.

Here’s a list of objectives that Telegram promotion effortlessly accomplishes. You can use these as practical guidelines to formulate your unique strategy:

• Informing Customers About Business News: The app is easily accessible, and users receive timely notifications.
• Cross-Platform Interaction: Rather than users having to download videos, providing a YouTube link triggers a well-placed Call to Action, encouraging targeted engagement.
• Direct and Regular User Communication: With Live Broadcasts on Telegram, you remain closely connected to your subscribers and can gather feedback more frequently.
• Customizing the Platform for Courses, Workshops, and Networking: Utilize a single group and chat navigator to establish convenient client interactions.
• Effortless Feedback Collection: You can swiftly create a chatbot using LivegramBot, no longer necessitating a separate website. A functional automated response system will be available 24/7 in just five minutes.
• Creating and Configuring a Fully Automated Sales Department: If your budget permits, leveraging AI and Telegram can enhance and streamline sales without sacrificing flexibility.

Once you’ve defined your goals for Telegram promotion, select the implementation method that aligns with your objectives.

Step 2. Choose and Create

We recommend sticking to the following table to determine which Telegram monitoring tools you need to promote your business in this messenger:

Step 3. Promote your TG account

At this stage, it’s crucial to increase your subscriber count continually. To achieve this, paid advertising for your channel or group on third-party channels and advertising platforms can be invaluable.

However, choosing the right social media platforms and messengers for cross-promotion is critical. You must ensure that integrating to collaborate with influencers is only advantageous and that you don’t fall victim to scams.

Securing placements on trustworthy platforms like the Collaborator platform is essential to ensure a positive outcome for your advertising efforts. Here’s why:

• The platform boasts a network of over 26,488 websites and 2,439 reliable Telegram channels for advertising.
• You’ll discover a user-friendly filter for selecting the most suitable placement services.
• Payments are conducted within the platform, eliminating hidden or unclear fees.
• The platform also offers automatic control over placements.
• You’re safeguarded against the premature removal of links.

This strategy guarantees a steady and secure increase in targeted subscribers.

3 Top Tips for Effective Telegram Marketing that professionals don’t talk about

1. Save links to channels that bring in subscribers at a lower cost. Create a distinct link for each advertising post to monitor the number of subscribers gained from advertising integrations. Here’s how:

a. Access the “Manage Channel” settings.

b. Navigate to “Invite Links.”

c. Create a unique link and monitor the subscriber count.

• Consider employing simple chatbots. While users can unsubscribe from a channel, not everyone can correctly deactivate a chatbot. You can re-engage unsubscribed users through chat room announcements.
• Utilize fixed messages to configure efficient navigation. It ensures that subscribers have essential information readily accessible.

Conclusion

Telegram is an influential tool for advancing your business. However, it’s necessary to wield it effectively to reap maximum benefits while guarding against potential fraud.

It is where helper platforms like Collaborator come into play. They can significantly enhance the outcomes of your Telegram promotion efforts.