Institute establishes college of forensics for fraud prevention

As the world financial systems continue to face global threat from fraudsters around the world, the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Examiners of Nigeria (CIFCFEN) has concluded arrangements for the flag-off the College of Forensics and fraud examination Institute in Nigeria to protect the country from the global threat.

An estimated 10 per cent of the global financial capital of $83 trillion, consisting of $8 trillion of which Nigeria is part of is believed to be under threat from fraudsters, according to the CIFCFEN President/Chairman of Council, Dr. Iliyasu Gashinbaki, provoking the necessity for the establishment of the Institute.

He stated this in Abuja, at the induction of the first set of direct members into the Institute in Abuja.

According to him, the College will be a regional model which is expected to be a centre of excellence for forensics and fraud examination in the entire continent.

“The implementation committee for the establishment of the college has submitted its report and we are now in the implementation stage. Very soon, the college will be responsible for anchoring all our activities that have to do with capacity building, training and all related professional development within the forensics and fraud examination space,” Gashinbaki added.

The chairman, Professional Training and Standards of the Institute, Professor Michael Ayeni said it will have four distinct Colleges. These are: College of Humanities, College of Forensic Sciences, College of Fraud Examination and College of Forensic Accounting.

“The College of Humanities will cater for other professional courses such as forensic etymology, forensic anthropology, forensic engineering, forensic dentistry, and forensic medicine,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the first direct induction of members by the Institute featured 25 eminent Nigerians drawn from security services, public service and corporate organizations.

The direct induction is targeted at highly experienced senior members either in public service or in the private sector that already have the residual knowledge and the minimum basic requirements in terms of experience and exposure.

“So the idea is to prepare them further, retrain them, upscale their skills so that they become truly and proper professional forensic accountants,” explained Gashinbaki.