Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN) has commended President Bola Tinubu for signing the Tax Reform Bill into law, and called for the establishment of a National Tax Fraud Investigation and Forensic Oversight Framework to improve the Nigerian tax system.

CIFCFIN’s Founder and Chairman, Governing Council, Dr Iliyasu Gashinbaki, who gave the charge during the graduation ceremony of the Institute’s 13th Direct Membership Training, Licensed Practitioners Training and Fellowship Awards at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Abuja, recently, said the new tax law introduced a unified tax code for consistency across all tiers of government.

He said that the initiative also mandated digital tax registration and reporting for both local and foreign entities, enforced stricter penalties for evasion and fraud that extended criminal liability to facilitators, such as accountants, auditors and even legal practitioners.

Gashinbaki, however, noted that no law, no matter how well-drafted, could enforce itself; thus, the need for a forensic counter-attack, as tax fraud, like other economic crimes, thrives on complexity, collusion, and complacency.

Also, Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Dr Abdullahi Usman Bello, who spoke after his investiture as an Honorary Fellow of the Institute, noted: “CIFICFIN represents excellence, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to combating fraud and upholding justice. To be recognised and honoured as a Fellow of this great Institute is a privilege that I will cherish and carry with great responsibility.”

“As the Chief Executive of CCB, I am reminded of the critical role we play in fostering transparency, accountability and ethical governance in Nigeria. This recognition inspires me to re-double my efforts.”

In his goodwill message, the DG, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, commended the leadership of CIFCFIN for sustaining a clear vision in developing a competent cadre of forensic professionals who will not only detect financial crimes, but also contribute to preventive frameworks and policy advocacy for system reform.

He, therefore, called on policymakers and stakeholders to collectively harness the potential of CIFCFIN to drive strategic reforms, improve investigative frameworks, and support the entrenchment of rule-based order across both the public and private sectors.