Legal experts to converge in Abuja for ILA conference – Tribune Online

As the global community grapples with the escalating threats of illicit financial flows (IFFs) and systemic corruption, the Nigerian Branch of the International Law Association (ILA Nigeria) is set to host its 9th Annual Conference from April 13 to 15, 2026.

The three-day high-level event will be held at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja, bringing together a powerhouse of international law experts, policymakers, and financial regulators.

This year’s theme, ‘Mitigating Economic and Financial Crime Risks in A Shifting Global Order: The Role of International Law,’ is aimed at dissecting the legal frameworks necessary to combat money laundering and tax evasion.

Professor Damilola Olawuyi, SAN, President of ILA Nigeria and Chairperson of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, emphasised that these crimes are more than just economic hurdles.

“Tax evasion and illicit financial flows are not only development problems but, indeed, human rights problems.

“Without taxes, governments cannot build roads, equip hospitals, or support research. There is a strong business case for stakeholders to stay abreast of risk management tools to prevent these risks,” Professor Olawuyi stated.

The conference will feature keynote addresses and masterclasses from some of the most influential figures in international law and diplomacy, including Dr Fatou Bensouda, Former Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and current Gambian High Commissioner to the UK, Edward Harris, Director General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Professor Bolaji Owasonoye, SAN, Former ICPC Chairman and current Coordinating Director at the Nigeria Revenue Services, and Mohamed M. Malick, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria.

Dr Grace Dafiel, Chairperson of the Conference Organising Committee, noted that the event is designed for a broad audience—including lawyers, academics, and business leaders in the financial sphere.

The agenda includes technical masterclasses, panel discussions, as well as the president’s dinner and awards night.