The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, OFR, has stated the willingness of the Commission to partner with the Chartered Institute of Forensic and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN) in order to improve on outcomes of investigation.
Prof. Owasanoye made this known on Wednesday when the council members of CIFCFIN paid a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters.
In his remarks, he stated that the Commission was always looking to engage in mutually beneficial relationships that would improve productivity especially in the areas of investigation and prosecution of corruption matters.
The ICPC boss revealed that the partnership would cover areas such as staff training, human development and capacity building. He further assured the visitors of the availability of the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), the training arm of the Commission for their use, in line with their request.
Owasanoye noted that there was a limit to forensic activities that can be shared, especially since ICPC is a law enforcement agency and has its own forensic laboratory which is used for investigations. He however, agreed to carefully consider the offer of a seat for a Director of the Commission on the governing council to ensure that no “laws are broken” and that there was no conflict of interest in the future.
Earlier in his remarks, the President of the governing council of CIFCFIN Dr. I. B. Gashinbaki, commended ICPC on the good work done which according to him, “…has been evident in an increase the success rates of prosecution”.
The CIFCFIN president outlined the 3 critical components of their enabling law which made provisions for the establishment of a College of Forensics; establishment of forensic labs for use by law enforcement agencies, and the production of forensic diplomates in relevant fields that include, insurance, banking, engineering and medicine amongst others.
Dr Gashinbaki proposed that ACTU members in various MDAs represent excellent training prospects as well as staff across the three arms of government.
The meeting concluded with an exchange of publications, group photographs and a tour of the state-of-the art forensic facilities of ICPC.