The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC has indicated its willingness to collaborate with the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Examiners of Nigeria CIFCFEN for the establishment of the first Nigerian College of Forensics.
The Executive Chairman, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa disclosed this at the Professional Training and Standards Graduation Ceremony of 93 Certified Fraud Examiners organized by the CIFOFEN at the EFCC Academy, Karu, Abuja.
Bawa noted that the investigation of economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption, demands collaborative engagement and EFCC would always partner with agencies involved in cracking such crimes.
“Investigating fraud, economic and financial crimes is not just a surface- level activity; you have got to have the inner eye. That is why the EFCC will continue to partner with agencies, government and private sectors like the Chartered Institute of Forensics And Certified Fraud Examiners Of Nigeria.”
Bawa added that “we heard that very soon they will be establishing the first Nigerian College of Forensics and Fraud Examiners of Nigeria. I will be discussing that with the President and I will see how we would partner.”
Surge in fraud
Bawa, who spoke through the Commandant, EFCC Academy, Ayo Peter Olowonihi, lamented the upsurge in fraud- related offences across the world and called for stronger commitments to combat the menace.
“The global statistics being rolled out shows that economic, financial crimes and corruption are deeply rooted in all societies. However, the will to fight and curb the crimes is more important”.
Also, President and Chairman of CIFCFEN, Iliyasu Gashinbaki, said that the EFCC has greatly improved in the last one year under the leadership of Bawa.
Gashinbaki, a former staff of EFCC said “I can tell you as somebody who is a friend to the house and as an insider to the EFCC, the Commission, within the last one year, have tremendously changed both in and out.”
He said “we have seen in the report of the EFCC Chairman’s one year in office that the rate of conviction improved, remarkable increase in recoveries made, the launch of operational manuals, establishment of the department of intelligence and more achievements that the EFCC has made”.
A Board member of CIFCFEN, Professor Michael Ayeni, stressed that the global increase in the rate of fraud is a reflection of how sophisticated crime is becoming.
“We implore the government to consider the need to look inward whenever the services of forensic experts are required,” he said.
Nneka Ukachukwu
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