For Nigeria to strengthen its capacity for accountability, good governance, transparency and plug leakages, it must embrace forensics-driven governance.

Nigeria must also prepare to face grave dangers ahead if it ignores the rising threats. The warning was given by the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN).

In a statement yesterday, the institute noted: “Today, financial crimes have become more sophisticated, technology-driven, and transnational, while Nigeria continues to face challenges such as public finance leakages, weak project execution, and rising debt with limited development outcomes.”

A statement noted that the CIFCFIN Founder and Chairman, Governing Council, Dr Iliyasu Gashinbaki, gave the warning during the institute’s induction of Fellows and Licensed Practitioners, as well as its 4th Annual General Meeting in Abuja.

It quoted the institute’s 1st Vice President, Dr Johnson Oluata, who represented Gashinbaki at the event, as saying that the institute, since its Charter in 2022, had remained a key stakeholder in Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework, bridging law, science, governance, and accountability.

He also noted the institute had continued to strengthen capacity and promote best practices in forensic investigation and fraud prevention through training, partnerships and professional development.

However, he lamented that the gap between public spending and actual development outcomes had remained a major concern, noting that certain projects funded across sectors in Nigeria had also been abandoned.

He stressed that in an era of cryptocurrency fraud, cybercrime, and complex financial manipulation, forensic professionals must remain ahead of emerging threats through continuous learning and innovation.

Expounding on this, the 1st Vice President said that individuals, institutions, and even leadership at all levels must remain accountable to society.

“Furthermore, capacity building is key. We train our personnel and practitioners to properly handle crime scenes, gather evidence, and carry out their duties professionally. Collaboration is also critical – wecannot work in isolation. That is why this Institute maintains strategic relationships with relevant agencies and organisations to ensure a coordinated approach in tackling crime,” Oluata declared.

In his remarks, the Registrar/Chief Executive, Dr Isa Salifu, said financial crimes required specialised analytical tools, including link analysis to trace relationships between past and present activities.

Giving an insight on the training, a Council member and Chairman, Professional Training & Standards, Prof. Michael Ayeni, revealed the intricate process involved.

“We exposed them to a range of relevant training topics. For instance, we covered court proceedings, documentation processes, and even the assessment of burnt documents. We made them understand that, in some cases, even burnt documents can still be recovered through forensic processes.”

One of the newly inducted practitioners, Isa Doma, recalls his experience, saying the training was highly insightful and impactful, providing practical knowledge and modern techniques in forensic investigation, evidence handling, crime scene management, and analytical thinking.