EFCC, UK Mission train officers to detect document forgery
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has deepened its collaboration with the British High Commission to strengthen the fight against organised immigration fraud through a specialised training on document forgery.
The training, held on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the British Deputy High Commission in Ikoyi, Lagos, was organised by the Home Office International Operations and targeted officers from two EFCC directorates based in Lagos.
Designed to enhance the Commission’s capacity in detecting forged documents and curbing document-related fraud, the session offered hands-on experience and exposure to various forgery techniques, including document alterations, simulations, and digital manipulations.
Zonal Director of the EFCC Lagos Directorate 1, CE Michael Nzekwe, who hosted the session, lauded the continued collaboration. “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 timely and will undoubtedly enhance our capabilities,” he said.
Leading the training, Mr. Coran Oakley, International Liaison Manager at the British High Commission, emphasized the importance of joint efforts in tackling immigration crime. He noted that the training focused on examining the security features of British and Nigerian passports to help EFCC operatives identify fraudulent documents during investigations.
Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, CSE Paul Terhemba, Head of the Visa & Migration Fraud Section, said the training would significantly aid the agency’s investigations. “We frequently examine documents suspected to be fraudulent. This training will help us identify such documents early before forwarding them for verification,” he said.
Participants, including DSE Okoronkwo Onyekachi and ASE I Timileyin Benson, praised the training. Onyekachi appreciated the insight into unknown security features, while Benson said her ability to distinguish fake documents had improved.
The EFCC reiterated its commitment to building the capacity of its personnel through strategic partnerships and ongoing training as part of its broader mission to combat economic and financial crimes.
