Institute advocates use of fraud investigators to block budgetary fraud

The Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN), has said effective deployment of certified fraud investigators will track abandoned projects scattered across the country. This the Institute said would lead to blockage of any future budgetary fraud to such abandoned projects, and save funds for the government.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony of the Institute’s third Direct Membership Training, Induction and Awards of fellowship at EFCC Academy, Abuja, the President, Dr. Iliyasu Gashinbaki, maintained that resources can equally be recovered from Oil and Gas, Maritime and Shipping, unremitted taxes from International Petroleum Shipping Companies operating in Nigeria while a NIN-based system would encourage tax expansion within the country. “Forensic recovery of resources will boost economic growth in Nigeria,” he asserted.

The Head of Interpol Systems in Nigeria, Mazi Chikwe Udensi, in his remarks, commended the Institute for training experts in forensics and fraud investigation to tackle the ever-shifting faces of corruption, fraud and criminality in Nigeria and the world at large. “Let me be very, very clear about this Institute, and I can tell you that I am highly elated and excited that we now have this great Institute in place in our country. I am happy because it is what we require as a nation. We require forensics and fraud investigations in certified quantum. It is important, very, very important for the society.” He however said it was time CIFCFIN added Interpol Systems Studies to its training curriculum, stressing that the Interpol Systems Forensics Data Base must be of primary concern to all Members of the Chartered Institute.

On his part, the President, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, Manason Gurkuwa Rubaini, said CIFCFIN is unique. “Let me say it loud and clear that from my little understanding of the functions of this Institute, you are the ones who will remake this country,” adding: “My specialties are genetic and molecular works. Therefore, forensics is one of the things we do.”

In his remarks, Prof. Roberts Ajayi Borofice, Senate Majority leader in the 9th Assembly, congratulated and eulogized Dr. Gashinbaki for the resilience and doggedness he exhibited in the process of getting the Institute registered and legalized as a Chartered Institute. He recalled that there was fierce competition by many organisations bearing very similar names that would have led to merging of all the organisations with such similar names by the legislators, but that did not happen to “this Institute’s Bill because the President and Chairman, Governing Council of the Institute was very tenacious, audacious and conscientious in his pursuit to get the Institute legalized.”

CIFCFIN third Direct membership training and induction had 156 graduands while 58 outstanding professionals bagged the Fellowship awards.