The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on Friday received the President and Chairman of Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Hajia Queensley Sofuratu Seghosime, mni, FCA, and her delegation at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The courtesy visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the professional accounting body.
According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the ICAN President used the occasion to congratulate the IGP on his appointment, commending what she described as his administration’s focus on accountability, modernisation and institutional reform.
The ICAN delegation, which included the Institute’s Registrar/Chief Executive, Dr Lanre Olasunkanmi; the Chairman of the ICAN Abuja District, Mr Emeka Okoroeze; and Mr Adama Yusuf, FCA, held discussions with the IGP on the increasing complexity of financial and economic crimes in the country and the need for police investigators to build stronger technical capacity in forensic accounting.
Among the proposals put forward by ICAN was the introduction of forensic accounting certification programmes for police investigators, specialised training for detectives, and an arrangement allowing cadets of the Police Academy to obtain the Accounting Technician Scheme for West Africa (ATSWA) certification.
The two sides also explored the possibility of setting up a dedicated Police-ICAN response mechanism specifically for high-profile financial fraud cases, which would draw on professional accounting expertise to support investigations, evidence development and the prosecution of complex financial crimes.
Responding, the IGP welcomed the proposed partnership, stating that modern policing demands specialised knowledge and strategic collaboration with professional institutions. He further proposed a joint public awareness campaign between the NPF and ICAN to educate businesses and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) on fraud prevention, early detection of financial crime, and responsible financial practices.
The statement noted that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to strengthening its capacity to investigate and prosecute financial and economic crimes through specialised training, professional partnerships, and the adoption of modern investigative techniques.
