The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has called for stronger collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) to improve the investigation and prosecution of financial and economic crimes.
This was revealed in a statement issued on Friday, August 21, 2026, by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, following a courtesy visit by the President and Chairman of Council of ICAN, Hajia Queensley Sofuratu Seghosime, mni, FCA, to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The visit focused on deepening professional cooperation between the two institutions, particularly in the areas of forensic accounting, financial investigations and capacity development for police personnel.
Seghosime congratulated Disu on his appointment as Inspector-General of Police and commended the reforms being pursued by his administration, especially its emphasis on accountability, institutional development and modernisation.
The ICAN delegation, which included the Registrar/Chief Executive, Dr Lanre Olasunkanmi; Chairman of the ICAN Abuja District, Emeka Okoroeze; and Adamu Yusuf, FCA, highlighted the increasing sophistication of financial and economic crimes and the need to strengthen the technical expertise available to investigators.
As part of the proposed partnership, ICAN offered to provide 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.
Both sides also considered establishing a dedicated Police-ICAN response mechanism for major financial fraud cases. The proposed framework would draw on professional accounting expertise to improve investigations, strengthen evidence gathering and support successful prosecution of complex financial offences.
The IGP welcomed the initiative, stressing that contemporary policing requires specialised skills as well as strategic partnerships with professional bodies.
Disu also proposed a joint public awareness campaign by the Police and ICAN to educate businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises on fraud prevention, early detection and sound financial management practices.
The Nigeria Police Force said it remains committed to improving its ability to combat financial and economic crimes through specialised training, professional partnerships and modern investigative methods.
The Force added that such initiatives would further promote accountability and professionalism while strengthening efforts to tackle increasingly sophisticated forms of criminality.
