The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) have moved to deepen collaboration in forensic accounting, fraud detection and the investigation of complex financial and economic crimes.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, disclosed this on Friday, August 21, 2026, when he received the President and Chairman of Council of ICAN, Hajia Queensley Sofuratu Seghosime, and her delegation at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
According to an official statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the meeting focused on strengthening professional collaboration between the two institutions and improving the technical capacity of police investigators handling financial crimes.
The ICAN delegation congratulated Disu on his appointment as Inspector-General of Police and commended the emphasis placed by his administration on accountability, modernisation and institutional reform.
The delegation, which included ICAN Registrar/Chief Executive, Dr. Lanre Olasunkanmi; Chairman, ICAN Abuja District, Mr. Emeka Okoroeze; and Mr. Adamu Yusuf, FCA, highlighted the increasing sophistication of financial and economic crimes and the need for specialised expertise to effectively investigate and prosecute such offences.
As part of the proposed partnership, ICAN offered to facilitate forensic accounting certification programmes for police investigators, specialised training for detectives and opportunities for cadets of the Police Academy to obtain the Accounting Technician Scheme for West Africa (ATSWA) certification.
The two institutions also explored the establishment of a dedicated Police-ICAN response mechanism for high-profile financial fraud cases.
The proposed mechanism is expected to leverage professional accounting expertise to strengthen financial investigations, evidence development and the prosecution of complex fraud cases.
Welcoming the proposals, Disu said modern policing required specialised knowledge and strategic partnerships with professional institutions to effectively confront emerging forms of criminality.
He further proposed a joint awareness campaign by the NPF and ICAN to educate businesses and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) on fraud prevention, early detection and responsible financial practices.
The IGP said stronger collaboration with professional bodies would help enhance the Police Force’s investigative capabilities while promoting accountability and professionalism in the fight against financial and economic crimes.
The engagement underscores the growing importance of forensic accounting and other specialised professional skills in strengthening law enforcement responses to sophisticated financial crimes in Nigeria.
