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Fraud Detection: Nigerian Investigators to Build Forensic Laboratory

September 23, 2019

“Forensic is an emerging trend; it was not there in the 60s when some
of the Acts were established."

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The Chartered Institute of Forensic and Investigative Professionals of
Nigeria (CIFIPN) says it will construct an academy to serve as the
institute’s training ground for forensic investigators.

Pro-tem President of CIFIPN, Mrs. Victoria Enape disclosed this in
Abuja at a dinner and award night organised for members and
stakeholders of the institute.

Enape who did not mention where the academy would be cited said when
established, it would serve as a training ground for prospective
members.

She said the prospective members would be expected to undergo a
one-year training and pass exams in three stages to qualify for
professional membership.

She also said that they must be graduates in the relevant fields to
qualify for admission into the academy.

“We are waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the CIFIPN bill
into law following its passage at the National Assembly.

“Forensic is an emerging trend; it was not there in the 60s when some
of the Acts were established.

“Considering our projection of a pacesetter status of CIFIPN, we are
hoping to acquire land that will house a state of the art forensic
training centre.

“The purpose of CIFIPN has been called into question while the
naysayers have continued to blackmail and even procure the services of
other professionals to discourage the government from doing the
needful.

“We are more like never before persuaded that Mr. President will
assent to the bill in no distant time; it is on this note that we
plead with the president to see the urgency that is required in
ensuring that the bill is assented to,” Enape said.

According to Enape, CIFIPN is also working on establishing a
well-equipped forensic laboratory for fraud investigation and
analysis.

She said: “This is no mean project; your support is most needed. At
the moment, we are gradually running out of enough office space.

“We urgently need an office accommodation that will befit the status
of CIFIPN; we are counting on your unalloyed support.

“Without any iota of doubt, our most ranked priority at the moment is
to see that the CIFIPN bill is assented to by Mr. President.”

Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo, Vice-Chancellor, Niger Delta University,
Bayelsa said the university would offer a block of building to CIFIPN
for its forensic training pending when the academy would be ready.

“When she visited us, I told her that my university will give her a
block for forensic training; the training will start at Niger Delta
University.

“So, I will want this institute to have their training at my
university just as we have ANAN in Jos. Some of us are at the
forefront of fighting corruption and detecting fraud.

“We need to incorporate forensic investigation into our university
system and we can discuss with the National Universities Commission
(NUC) to see how it can work,” Edoumiekumo said.

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