Joseph Bakare
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has strengthened its collaboration with the British High Commission in the fight against organised immigration fraud through a specialised training on document forgery.
The training, organised by the Home Office International Operations of the British Deputy High Commission, held on Thursday, 15 May, 2025, for the two Directorates in Lagos, at 15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The training was designed to enhance the capacity of EFCC officers in detecting forgeries and preventing document-related fraud.
The Zonal Director, Lagos Directorate 1, CE Michael Nzekwe, who hosted the training, expressed appreciation for the continued collaboration between the two agencies. “We thank you for this partnership, knowing that one of our core values is stakeholder collaboration. Our mandate is to combat financial crimes, many of which are transnational. This training is very timely and will undoubtedly enhance our capabilities,” he said.
Leading the training was Mr. Coran Oakley, International Liaison Manager at the British High Commission, who emphasized the importance of joint efforts in tackling organised immigration crime. “This training will enhance the EFCC’s capability in forgery detection by examining the security features of both British and Nigerian passports, thereby strengthening their ability to identify fraudulent documents during operational activities,” he said.
Participants were exposed to the various forgery techniques, including document alterations, simulations, and digital manipulations.
Interactive sessions and real-life case studies provided hands-on experience in identifying forged documents.
Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, CSE Paul Terhemba, Head of the Visa & Migration Fraud Section, noted that the training would greatly support the EFCC’s investigative efforts. “We frequently examine documents that appear to be fraudulent and are often issued to defraud unsuspecting victims at significant financial costs.
This training will enable us to better identify such documents before escalating them to the issuing authorities for verification,” he said.
Some of the participants who acknowledged the relevance and significance of the training, include: Deputy Superintendent of the EFCC, DSE Okoronkwo Onyekachi and Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, ASE I Timileyin Benson.
Onyekachi pointed out the benefit of learning about previously unknown security features, while Benson highlighted the improvement in her ability to distinguish counterfeit documents from genuine ones.
The EFCC remains committed to enhancing the skills of its operatives through strategic partnerships and continuous training in its mission to combat economic and financial crimes.