Just in : EFCC Boosts Capacity to Tackle Immigration Fraud Through UK-Backed Training in Lagos
By Exponent News Akure, 15th May ,2025
Lead Paragraph:
In a renewed effort to crack down on organised immigration fraud, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has teamed up with the British High Commission to deliver a specialised training on document forgery to its operatives in Lagos.
Body:
The training, facilitated by the Home Office International Operations of the British Deputy High Commission, took place on Thursday, 15 May, 2025, at the EFCC’s Lagos office, located at 15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi. It targeted operatives from the Commission’s two Lagos Directorates and aimed to strengthen their capacity to detect forged travel documents and other forms of document-related fraud.
Zonal Director of EFCC Lagos Directorate 1, CE Michael Nzekwe, who hosted the session, lauded the collaboration and emphasized the importance of inter-agency partnerships in combating transnational crimes.
> “Our mandate is to combat financial crimes, many of which transcend borders. This training is timely and aligns with our core value of stakeholder collaboration,” Nzekwe stated.
The training was led by Mr. Coran Oakley, International Liaison Manager at the British High Commission, who noted that document fraud continues to be a major enabler of immigration-related crime.
“Through this session, EFCC operatives are gaining valuable skills in identifying forgeries by examining key security features in both British and Nigerian passports,” Oakley said.
Participants were guided through practical sessions on spotting document alterations, simulations, and digital manipulations. Real-life case studies were also presented to illustrate the tactics used by fraudsters.
CSE Paul Terhemba, who heads the Visa & Migration Fraud Section at EFCC, noted that the training will significantly enhance the agency’s investigative efficiency.
> “We encounter forged documents routinely—often used to scam victims of large sums of money. This training sharpens our ability to detect them early and take swift action,” he explained.
EFCC operatives, including DSE Okoronkwo Onyekachi and ASE I Timileyin Benson, described the training as insightful and impactful. Onyekachi noted the value of discovering new security markers, while Benson highlighted the practical gains in distinguishing between authentic and fake documents.
Conclusion:
With immigration fraud becoming more sophisticated, the EFCC says it will continue to invest in training and inter-agency cooperation to stay ahead of criminal networks and safeguard national and international security.
