The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, on Monday, 27 November, charged states and local government auditors to be more professional in order to enhance their capacity in forensic evaluation.
He made the call at the Conference of Auditors- General of States and Local Government Areas, held at the EFCC Academy, Karu, Abuja.
Speaking on the theme of the Conference: “Enhancing Public Accountability Through Forensics and Fraud Investigation,” the EFCC Chairman who was represented by the Acting Commandant, EFCC Academy, Babashani Umar Sanda, stated that the auditor plays a very critical role in enhancing accountability and transparency in financial affairs of sub-national governments.
“Being the first to spot corporate abuse and malpractices, diligent check on the accounting system, there is a need therefore, for the auditor to be professional and knowledgeable in forensic investigation. It is being said that if the auditor is compromised, the system is compromised,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of forensic investigation, Chairman of Professional Training and Standards Committee, Professor Michael A. Ayeni, stated that “Forensic accounting is about detailed investigation of financial misdemeanor and the enactment of robust internal control system that focuses on fraud risk environments control and how to checkmate recklessness”. He cautioned against waiting for larceny to occur and coming months after its occurrence to lament on the wastages and economic leakages that would have been effectively caged.
Speaking further, he noted that “One effective panacea would be the creation of forensic department in each state’s ministry and a miniature section in the local governments to assist in making the gate firmly locked against financial intruders.”
On his part, Auditor-General of the Federation, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, called for a paradigm shift from the traditional procurement processes to a more human-techno friendly way. “With the sophistication and complexities of modern fraud, only a forensic expert equipped with adequate tools can navigate the murky water of unravelling the immediate and remote causes of fraud,” he said.
He noted that the conference would avail participants the opportunity to brainstorm and re-examine the efficacy of forensic audit and investigation over traditional audit and investigation.
President, Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria, CIFFIN, Dr. Iliyasu Gashinbanki called for a review of the Public Procurement Act to ensure transparency, accountability, value for money, efficiency and timely delivery of works, goods and services by ministries, department and agencies.
According to him, “The Public Procurement Act must be subjected to end-to-end forensic analysis. The entire public procurement management process must be digitalized.
