At a Glance:

• The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) ordered the immediate freezing of all movable and immovable assets for 12 senior politicians and former officials.
• Affected figures include Muthanna al-Samarrai, Bahaa al-Din Nouri, Aalia Nassif, Ziad al-Janabi, and former advisor Ibrahim al-Sumaida'ie.
• Commercial banks must perform strict income audits to cross-reference transactions against official government salaries.
• Monitoring regulations extend directly to financial accounts held by spouses, immediate family members, and close associates.

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The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) issued binding directives to all licensed financial institutions ordering the immediate freezing of movable and immovable assets belonging to 12 high-ranking political figures and public officials. Acting on judicial mandates from the Anti-Corruption Investigative Court following high-profile raids in Baghdad's Green Zone, the enforcement marks a significant escalation in systemic anti-corruption measures.

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Key Statements:

• Central Bank Compliance Mandate:"All licensed banks and financial entities must execute the immediate seizure of movable and immovable properties and promptly report any identified accounts or financial holdings belonging to the designated individuals to judicial authorities." — Central Bank of Iraq Circular.

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Judicial Enforcement and Targeted Figures

The CBI's asset seizure orders derive from Decision No. 555 issued by the Anti-Corruption Investigative Court following security operations in Baghdad. The action targets major political personalities, including lawmaker Muthanna al-Samarrai, Bahaa al-Din Nouri, Aalia Nassif, Ziad al-Janabi, and former advisor Ibrahim al-Sumaida'ie, alongside several current and former parliamentarians. All commercial and retail banking institutions received mandatory notices to block transaction flows and restrict capital transfers associated with the listed names.

Systemic Monitoring and Extended Financial Oversight

In parallel with individual asset freezes, the Central Bank established updated compliance requirements to prevent illicit enrichment and money laundering through front companies. Under the new framework, financial institutions must systematically audit account activity against official monthly salaries to flag disproportionate wealth accumulation. Oversight protocols officially cover immediate family members, spouses, and known business associates to eliminate third-party proxy accounts and financial concealment.

FYI

By targeting prominent political figures with immediate asset freezes and structural banking audits, Iraqi regulators are attempting to dismantle long-standing networks of financial patronage. The execution of judicial mandates via central banking mechanisms highlights a shift toward using systemic compliance controls to recover public assets and enforce institutional accountability.

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