CIFIPN seeks Buhari’s assent to fraud, corruption bill

The Chartered Institute Of Forensic And Investigative Professionals Of Nigeria (CIFIPN), yesterday, in Abuja, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to give assent to the bill seeking to establish the institute in order to address corruption, illicit financial flows and other fraudulent activities currently endangering the country’s development.

Speaking at a press conference to announce development on the bill, the institute’s Pro-tem President, Dr. Enape Victoria, said both the lower and upper chambers of the National Assembly had already passed the bill.

Enape said the current anti-corruption war in the country required forensic and investigative professionals to achieve desired result.

Enape, who equally said expending Nigeria’s hard-earned foreign exchange on hiring expatriates for forensic jobs remained a major economic disaster, noted that CIFIPN was aimed at bridging the skill gap in the areas of forensic and investigation, thereby helping the country to conserve foreign reserves.

Disclosing that Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) was currently being used by some highly corrupt Nigerians to frustrate the bill by condemning both chambers for passing it, Enape noted that attacks by the body was shameful and baseless.

The Pro-tem President said the association was not an accounting body, as claimed by some people, adding, “No forensic body in Nigeria before the emergence of CIFIPN. Therefore, the noise from APBN is misleading, baseless and should be disregarded.”

Appreciating the 8th Assembly for efforts made on the bill, Enape said the group would promote high professional standards to wipe out cases of fraud, ensure efficient fraud prevention and detection through the training and regulation of competent manpower.