By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Kaduna Zonal Directorate has held a one-day sensitization workshop for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and journalists, aimed at strengthening collaboration in the fight against corruption.
Declaring the workshop open, the Acting Zonal Director, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo, underscored the critical role played by the media and civil society in exposing financial crimes and supporting transparency.
Kaltungo noted that intelligence and information shared by CSOs and journalists have contributed significantly to several high-profile investigations and public enlightenment campaigns. He urged participants to take advantage of the platform to engage in open dialogue, ask questions, seek clarifications, and share insights that will enhance cooperation between the EFCC and stakeholders.
Speaking on the objectives of the workshop, the Head of Public Affairs Unit, Zainab Sani Ahmed, emphasized the need for sustained collaboration in strengthening public accountability. She explained that the session was designed to deepen understanding of the legal and practical realities of prosecuting financial crimes, shed light on emerging threats such as cryptocurrency-related fraud, and highlight the preventive responsibilities of CSOs and the media.
“The workshop aims to demystify complex issues around financial crime prosecution and equip participants with knowledge that strengthens our collective capacity to build a corruption-resistant society,” she said.
The event featured three seasoned resource persons and was structured to encourage active engagement among participants.
Delivering a paper titled “Prosecuting Financial Crimes: Issues, Challenges and the Way Forward,” the Head of Legal and Prosecution Department of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate, Nasiru Salele, outlined the major obstacles confronting effective prosecution of economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.
Salele identified external challenges such as unwarranted restraining orders, lack of specialized skills, evidential and legal hurdles, and the rapid technological evolution of crime. He also pointed to institutional constraints, including inadequate logistics, limited capacity building, insufficient personnel, and lack of modern working tools.
To address these gaps, Salele stressed the importance of leveraging technology, intelligence gathering, and digital forensics to improve investigative and prosecutorial efficiency. He also called for reforms in trial procedures, promotion of corporate self-reporting, and strengthened international cooperation.
According to him, the future of financial crime prosecution hinges on how well the justice system adapts to the digital age. He proposed a three-pronged strategy: adopting advanced technologies, modernizing legal and policy frameworks, and deepening global collaboration.
Salele concluded that only through sustained commitment to innovation, reform, and international partnership can Nigeria effectively confront the corrosive impact of economic and financial crimes and uphold the rule of law.
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