2027 Polls: NBA, Institute Seeks Use Of Forensics To Eradicate Fraud

Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN) have canvassed the use of forensics in the forthcoming 2027 general elections to eradicate fraud and forgery in the country to strengthen institutions.

This was disclosed when the NBA president, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN) alongside the general secretary and other executives, received council members and the management team of CIFCFIN led by the founder/chairman, Governing Council, Dr Iliyasu Gashinbaki, at the NBA’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

The NBA president said that forensic science could strengthen the country’s judicial system, enhance institutional credibility, and safeguard Nigeria’s democracy, especially as Nigerians look ahead to the 2027 general elections. “Issues such as certificate forgery and document manipulation have repeatedly embarrassed our institutions and weakened public confidence.

We must gate keep more effectively,” he stated, adding, “Independent, professionally regulated forensic services are essential.”   He stressed that when people present themselves for public appointments, thorough gatekeeping is required.

“Our institutional integrity suffers when unqualified individuals gain entry and are exposed only because someone petitions against them.”Praising the Act setting up the Institute, Osigwe declared: “Your Institute is timely and necessary. You provide a professional structure that signals seriousness about forensic integrity.” He described the partnership between CIFCFIN and NBA as very timely, strategic and necessary in order to build a country where integrity is verified, systems are trusted and fraud is prevented before it takes root.

He said the NBA is also ready to collaborate in raising awareness, building capacity for the Bench and Bar, as well as strengthening systems that ensure documents and transactions emanating from Nigeria are trustworthy.

He said Nigeria is at a point where “we must demonstrate — both to ourselves and to the world – that we are serious about combating money laundering, fraud, corruption, and terrorism financing, and related financial crimes.

According to him, there are reports of forged MoUs used to claim government funds. “In some instances, multiple entities present conflicting documents, each purporting to be authentic. The issue extends even to consent judgments and other court processes. This is not a minor problem. It touches on the credibility of our courts and our profession,” he stressed, adding:

“Nigeria has reached the point where people should move beyond reacting to fraud after it has caused damage, adding that systems should be built to prevent it from happening in the first place to save costs from investigation and prosecution.

”He cited the June 2025 recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC), where 10 judges from the High Court of Imo State and the Customary Court of Appeal of the State were compulsorily retired for falsifying their age to buttress the gravity of the situation at hand.

He commended CIFCFIN’s president and his team for the work they are doing to institutionalise forensic standards in Nigeria, noting that a modern justice system cannot function optimally without credible forensic analysis, whether in document verification, digital investigations or financial tracing.

Speaking earlier, CIFCFIN’s Founder and Chairman, Governing Council, Dr Iliyasu Gashinbaki, said since receiving its charter, the Institute has trained over 6000 members, including a substantial number of legal practitioners within the last three years.

He said the Institute has also actively engaged the three arms and three tiers of government to re-emphasise the importance of forensic science in governance and justice administration.

“With the 2027 general elections approaching, the Institute recognises the vital role of forensic science in the electoral process – from pre-primary activities to election management and post-elections litigation support,” he stated.

He revealed that the Institute engaged the leadership of all registered political parties in Nigeria through strategic meetings aimed at raising awareness of the importance of forensic verification within the electoral system.

“During these engagements, it was highlighted that several electoral disputes and losses – particularly those linked to allegations of certificate forgery could have been prevented through the early deployment of forensic analysis,” he said.

He disclosed further that proper vetting of candidates before party primaries would significantly reduce electoral disputes as well as prevent the recurring national embarrassment associated with credential-related controversies.