The Secretary of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Mr. Okwudiri Oparaodu, has called for stronger forensic investigation capabilities to enable the commission to effectively tackle increasingly sophisticated corruption and financial fraud cases.
Oparaodu made the call during the opening of a two-day capacity-building workshop for ICPC operations personnel themed “Harnessing Forensic Capabilities in the Investigation of Corrupt Practices and Financial Frauds,” sponsored by the Centre for Democracy and Development.
This was contained in a press statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday by the spokesperson of the commission, Okor Odey.
According to the ICPC secretary, the growing complexity of corrupt practices and financial crimes has made forensic investigation a critical tool in modern law enforcement.
He explained that investigators must increasingly rely on advanced forensic techniques and modern technology to unravel complex financial crimes and build cases that can withstand judicial scrutiny.
“The integrity of your investigation rests on the robustness of your forensic application,” Oparaodu said, warning that lapses in the forensic chain could jeopardise months of investigative work in court.
He urged participants to engage actively in the training and pay close attention to investigative procedures to ensure their findings remain credible, verifiable, and legally defensible.
Oparaodu also expressed appreciation to the Centre for Democracy and Development for sponsoring the programme, noting that the inclusion of both operational and administrative staff would promote a broader understanding of forensic applications across the Commission.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Head of the ICPC External Cooperation Unit, Ahmed Abdul, encouraged participants to take full advantage of the training to sharpen their investigative skills and apply the knowledge to improve the Commission’s anti-corruption operations.
Also speaking, CDD representative Titilayo Olaniyan described the workshop as timely, noting that corruption and financial crimes in Nigeria and across the region are becoming increasingly intricate and transnational.
She emphasised that the effective use of forensic techniques, proper evidence management, and modern investigative methods is vital to strengthening law enforcement and prosecution of corruption cases.
Olaniyan added that the initiative reflects the organisation’s commitment to strengthening accountability systems and enhancing the capacity of anti-corruption institutions in Nigeria.
Leave a comment