The Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN) has called for the adoption of forensic-driven governance in Nigeria, saying it is essential to strengthen accountability, improve transparency, and reduce financial leakages.

The institute made the call during the induction of fellows and licensed practitioners held alongside its fourth Annual General Meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

Speaking at the event, the founder and chairman of the governing council, Iliyasu Gashinbaki, raised concerns over the increasing complexity of financial crimes in the country, noting that they are now more technology-driven and cross-border in nature.

“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,” he said.

Gashinbaki, who was represented by the institute’s first vice-president, Johnson Oluata, also disclosed that over 6,000 professionals have been trained since CIFCFIN received its charter in 2022.

He stressed the importance of continuous learning for professionals, especially in response to emerging threats such as cybercrime and cryptocurrency-related fraud.

“In an era of cryptocurrency fraud, cybercrime, and complex financial manipulation, forensic professionals must remain ahead of emerging threats through continuous learning and innovation,” he said.

Oluata also emphasised that tackling financial crimes requires both capacity building and institutional collaboration.

“Capacity building is key. We train our personnel and practitioners to properly handle crime scenes, gather evidence, and carry out their duties professionally,” he said.

“Collaboration is also critical—we cannot work in isolation. That is why this Institute maintains strategic relationships with relevant agencies and organisations to ensure a coordinated approach in tackling crime.”

The Registrar and Chief Executive of CIFCFIN, Isa Salifu, noted that modern financial crimes require advanced analytical tools, including link analysis to track relationships between financial activities.

“These crimes continue to evolve, and so must our responses,” he said.

“While conventional accounting methods remain relevant, they are no longer sufficient on their own. Criminals are constantly innovating, so to stay ahead, we must continuously evolve as well.”

Chairman of Professional Training and Standards, Michael Ayeni, said participants were exposed to practical forensic techniques, including court procedures, documentation, and evidence assessment.

“For instance, we covered court proceedings, documentation processes, and even the assessment of burnt documents,” he said.

“We made them understand that, in some cases, even burnt documents can still be recovered through forensic processes.”

One of the inductees, Isa Doma, described the training as practical and relevant, saying it improved his understanding of forensic investigation, evidence handling, crime scene management, and analytical thinking.